Japan, Bulgaria agree to upgrade ties, step up economic cooperation
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Bulgarian President Rumen Radev agreed Tuesday to upgrade bilateral relations to a "strategic partnership" and enhance cooperation in economic, IT, and other fields.
At a joint press conference after talks with Radev in Tokyo, Ishiba said Japan will work closely with Bulgaria, which "places emphasis on the rule of law and the international order," apparently with Russia's invasion of Ukraine in mind.
Known for its abundant IT workforce, Bulgaria is home to the Institute for Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence and Technology, set up with investment from U.S. tech giant Google LLC. It has engaged in joint research with Japanese Toyota Motor Corp.
Bulgaria, a member of NATO and the European Union, neighbors Russia and Ukraine across the Black Sea. Radev is on a five-day visit to Japan through Wednesday, having traveled to Tokyo after attending the World Exposition in Osaka.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
24 minutes ago
Ishiba Vows to Set Up Council for Regional Revitalization
Maebashi, Gunma Pref., June 7 (Jiji Press)--Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said Saturday that he plans to establish a council tasked with helping promote regional revitalization led by the private sector. He hopes to include the plan, unveiled in talks with reporters during his visit to Maebashi, the capital of Gunma Prefecture, north of Tokyo, in a basic concept of his signature "Regional Revitalization 2.0" program. The envisaged council will be directly supervised by Ishiba, according to the prime minister. The basic concept is expected to be compiled this summer. "We'll consider the possibility of revising related laws while learning from the efforts being made in Maebashi" in order to help accelerate community building through public-private cooperation, Ishiba said. In Maebashi, Ishiba visited Jins Park, a regional interaction hub, which also includes an eyeglasses store. [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]
Yomiuri Shimbun
2 hours ago
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Ishiba, South Korea's Lee May Meet during G7 Summit
Pool photo / AP South Korean new President Lee Jae-myung speaks during a press conference in Seoul on Wednesday. SEOUL (Jiji Press) — Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and new South Korean President Lee Jae-myung may hold their first in-person meeting during the Group of Seven summit to be held in Canada later this month. The South Korean presidential office said Saturday that Lee is slated to join the summit, at the invitation of the G7 side. Lee, who took office only on Wednesday, is thus expected to make his diplomatic debut at the summit. The meeting among leaders of the seven major countries — Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States — is scheduled to take place for three days from June 15. Lee has made harsh remarks toward Japan in the past. Recently, however, he has indicated a stance of putting weight on cooperation among Japan, the United States and South Korea, calling Japan an important partner of his country. The Japanese government apparently hopes to realize an Ishiba-Lee meeting at an early date so that the two sides can share their views on further developing the bilateral relationship. Also on the sidelines of the G7 summit, Lee may hold his first face-to-face meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump.
The Mainichi
2 hours ago
- The Mainichi
Editorial: Japan needs bold new policies as births fell below 700,000 for 1st time in 2024
Japan's population decline is accelerating much faster than predicted by the government. The nation cannot afford to ignore this inconvenient truth. The number of births among Japanese citizens in 2024 stood at 686,061, falling below 700,000 for the first time since record-keeping began. The figure had dropped below 800,000 just two years earlier. The total fertility rate, defined as the average number of children a woman is expected to have in her lifetime, also hit a record low of 1.15. Japan has spent the past 30 years implementing policy measures to tackle the falling birth rate. Yet, far from stopping, the decline continues to accelerate -- progressing about 15 years ahead of what the government previously considered a realistic scenario. At this rate, the country faces a shrinking workforce and consumer base, threatening to sap the vitality of society. The number of marriages has also dropped sharply, falling 40% from approximately 800,000 in 2001. Anxiety among young people about their futures is cited as one contributing factor. While overall employment conditions are improving, there remain significant wage disparities depending on company size and employment status. Additionally, rising housing costs in urban areas are straining household budgets. Improvements in wages and working conditions are urgently needed. The current situation in which domestic chores and child care responsibilities fall disproportionately on women must also change. Many women view marriage and childbirth as obstacles to building their careers. The administration of former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida introduced what it called "unprecedented measures to reverse the declining birth rate," including expansions in child allowances and childcare leave benefits. While up to 3.6 trillion yen (about $24.8 billion) has been allocated, these policy initiatives largely remain extensions of previous ones, making their potential effectiveness uncertain. More fundamentally, the government must carefully reevaluate whether these moves meet the actual needs of the younger generation. Public perceptions regarding family and work have significantly evolved. Some young people feel a fundamental disconnect with Japan's marriage system, which effectively requires women to change their surnames, and with employment practices that assume long hours and frequent job relocations. Policymakers must begin by identifying these structural issues. If the current pace of population decline persists, the number of working-age people in Japan will drastically decrease, threatening the sustainability of public pensions. This could lead even more individuals to hesitate over life decisions such as marriage and having children, creating another vicious cycle. Policies based on outdated assumptions will undoubtedly fail to resolve these challenges. The government must adopt a sense of crisis and urgently take up bold new ideas and approaches.
