Japan-Belgium Relations
2016/11/17
Basic Data
- Diplomatic Relations:
Established in 1866 with the signing of the Treaty of Friendship and Commerce. Belgium actively seeks to strengthen and expand relations with Japan. An extremely close relationship exists between the Japanese imperial family and the Belgian royal family.
- Japanese Nationals:
Number of Japanese nationals residing in Belgium: 5,335 (Oct. 2011)
- Trade with Japan (2013)
- Exports to Japan: 242,4 billion yen (Medicine, Material of Transport, Diamond, etc.)
- Imports from Japan: 516,7 billion yen (Material of transport, Machine for construction and for mine, Organic compound etc.)
- Number of compagnies entering the Market
- From Japan to Belgium 241
- From Belgium to Japan 76
- Friendly twin towns between Japan and Belgium
- Himeji (Hyogo) --- Charleroi (since 1965)
- Kanazawa (Ishikawa) --- Gent (since 1971)
- Komatsu (Ishikawa) --- Vilvoorde (since 1974)
- Itami (Hyogo) --- Hasselt (since 1985)
- Nagakute (Aichi) --- Waterloo (since 1992)
- Hanyu (Saitama) --- Durbuy (since 1994)
- Hida (Gifu) --- Libin (since 1996)
- Yuki (Ibaraki) --- Mechelen (since 1996)
- Diplomatic missions (2014)
- Ambassador of Japan in Belgium, H.E.Mr. Masafumi Ishii
- Ambassador of Belgium in Japan, H.E. Mr. Luc Liebaut
VIP Visits
| From Japan to Belgium | |
| 1990 | His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince, Prime Minister Kaifu with his wife, Foreign Minister Nakayama |
| 1991 | Prime Minister Kaifu |
| 1993 | Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress (twice) |
| 1994 | Prime Minister Hata |
| 1996 | Foreign Minister Ikeda |
| 1997 | Foreign Minister Ikeda |
| 1999 | His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince and Princess, Former Prime Minister Hashimoto |
| 2000 | Foreign Minister Kono, International Trade and Industry Minister Fukaya, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Tamazawa |
| 2001 | Prime Minister Koizumi |
| 2002 | Education and Science Minister Toyama, Foreign Minister Kawaguchi |
| 2005 | Foreign Minister Machimura, Foreign Vice Minister Onodera and Ito |
| 2006 | Foreign Minister Aso, Foreign Vice Minister Iwaya, Minister of State for Regulatory Reform Chuma |
| 2007 | Prime Minister Abe |
| 2009 | Foreign Vice Minister Nishimura |
| 2010 | Prime Minister Kan |
| 2011 | Prime Minister Kan, Foreign Minister Matsumoto, Minister of Financial and Postal Issues Jimi |
| 2013 | Foreign Vice Minister Matsuyama |
| 2014 | Foreign Minister Abe |
| From Belgium to Japan | |
| 1990 | Their Majesties King Baudouin and the Queen, Deputy Prime Minister Dehaene |
| 1991 | Deputy Prime Minister Claes |
| 1992 | Their Majesties King Baudouin and the Queen, Foreign Minister Claes |
| 1993 | His Royal Highness Prince Albert, Prime Minister Dehaene |
| 1994 | His Royal Highness Prince Philip |
| 1996 | Their Majesties King Albert and Queen, Foreign Minister Derycke |
| 1997 | His Royal Highness Prince Philip |
| 1998 | Deputy Prime Minister Di Rupo |
| 1999 | His Royal Highness Prince Philip |
| 2000 | Their Royal Highness Crown Prince Philip and Princess Mathilde |
| 2001 | Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt |
| 2002 | His Royal Highness Prince Philip, Minister of Finance Reynders |
| 2003 | His Royal Highness Prince Laurent, Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt, Minister of Development Cooperation Verwilghen |
| 2005 | His Royal Highness Prince Philip, Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt, Foreign Minister De Gucht, Minister of Finance Reynders, Minister of Economy Verwilghen |
| 2006 | Chief of Diffence Van Daele |
| 2008 | Minister for Simplication and administration Van Quickenborne |
| 2010 | Prime Minister Yves Leterme, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Vanackere |
| 2012 | His Royal Highness Prince Philip, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minster Reynders |
| 2013 | His Royal Highness Princess Astrid |
| 2014 | His Royal Highness Princess Maria Lora |
Bilateral Treaties and Agreements
- 1956: ECHANGE DE NOTES ENTRE LE GOUVERNEMENT DU JAPON ET LE GOUVERNEMENT DE LA BELGIQUE CONSTITUANT UN ARRANGEMENT CONCERNANT L'ABOLITION RECIPROQUE DES VISAS ET TARIFS DE PASSEPORT
- 1959: ACCORD RELATIF AUX SERVICES AERIENS ENTRE LE JAPON ET LA BELGIQUE
- 1960: AGREEMENT ON COMMERCE BETWEEN JAPAN ON THE ONE HAND AND THE KINGDOM OF THE NETHERLANDS AND THE BELGO-LUXEMBURG ECONOMIC UNION ON THE OTHER HAND
- 1968: CONVENTION BETWEEN JAPAN AND THE KINGDOM OF BELGIUM FOR THE AVOIDANCE OF DOUBLE TAXATION WITH RESPECT TO TAXES ON INCOME
- 1973: ACCORD CULTUREL ENTRE LE JAPON ET LE ROYAUME DE BELGIQUE
- 1988: PROTOCOL AMENDING THE CONVENTION BETWEEN JAPAN AND THE KINGDOM OF BELGIUM FOR THE AVOIDANCE OF DOUBLE TAXATION WITH RESPECT TO TAXES ON INCOME (2010: NOT EFFECTED)
- 2005: AGREEMENT BETWEEN JAPAN AND THE KINGDOM OF BELGIUM ON SOCIAL SECURITY
Cultural Exchanges
- Main cultural events between Belgium and Japan are:
- 1989 "Europalia" Japan (introducing Japanese art and culture)
- 1993 Antwerp was nominated as the Cultural Capital of Europe, and events were held to introduce Japanese culture.
- 2005 Japan-EU people-to-people exchange year were held in the 25 EU contries. In Belgium 74 cultural events took place as a part of this special year.
In addition to the above, there are many Japanese cultural events held in Belgium, organised by the Japan Foundation and the Embassy of Japan. Please see the event calendar in Belgium