Latest news with #Spajic
Asahi Shimbun
29-05-2025
- Politics
- Asahi Shimbun
Montenegrin leader impresses Ishiba with Japanese fluency
In a rare and symbolic display of international diplomacy, Montenegrin Prime Minister Milojko Spajic held a summit with Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba in fluent Japanese at his office in Tokyo on May 28. Spajic impressed his Japanese counterpart and officials by conducting the meeting and subsequent luncheon entirely in Japanese. 'Our two countries share values such as the rule of law, democracy, multilateralism, peace and prosperity,' he said. 'We fully support Japan's vision of a free and open international order.' As a scholarship recipient of the Japanese government, he studied at Saitama University, according to the Foreign Ministry. Spajic's visit coincides with the Balkan country's National Day celebration at the Osaka Kansai Expo. 'This is a meeting that will go down in history,' Ishiba said, noting the rarity of a foreign head of state engaging in direct dialogue in Japanese. The two leaders agreed to enhance bilateral relations between their countries, including Japan's lifting of short-visit visa requirements from Montenegro starting this autumn. 'Your experience studying in Japan provides a truly encouraging foundation for further developing the relationship between our two nations,' Ishiba added. He also expressed his support for Montenegro's continued efforts to join the European Union.
The Mainichi
28-05-2025
- Business
- The Mainichi
Japan to allow visa-free visits from Montenegro to boost exchanges
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Wednesday told his Montenegrin counterpart Milojko Spajic about a plan to start visa exemptions for short-term visitors from the Balkan nation to boost bilateral exchanges. Calling Montenegro "an extremely important partner that share values and principles," Ishiba also agreed with Spajic to work together to uphold a "free and open" international order based on the rule of law, according to the Japanese Foreign Ministry. The planned launch of the visa-free scheme for Montenegrin passport holders from Sept. 1 is expected to facilitate exchanges of people between the two countries, Ishiba was quoted as saying during the meeting in Tokyo. He also said Japan will support Montenegro, a NATO member, in its goal to join the European Union by 2028, the ministry said. Spajic, who has studied and worked in Japan and is visiting the country to attend the ongoing World Exposition in Osaka, said in Japanese at the outset of the meeting that he supports Tokyo's strategy to defend freedom and stability in the Indo-Pacific and hopes that bilateral economic ties will deepen. Later in the day, Ishiba met with Luxembourg's Grand Duke Henri, who is also visiting Japan for the expo, and agreed to advance their cooperation, such as in the field of space, the Japanese ministry said.
