Germany and Japan are many hours away from each other by plane. And yet the two countries and societies are very close – we share values and interests with Japan, and our economic ties are diverse. There is also close political coordination on a regular basis: in formats such as the G7 or at joint intergovernmental consultations, which took place for the first time in 2023.

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After his arrival in Tokyo, Foreign Minister Wadephul will meet his Japanese counterpart Takeshi Iwaya for a strategic dialogue and will then have talks with other representatives of the Japanese Government. The focus will be on security issues: to be more precise, security in Europe, which is under threat due to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. Despite its geographical distance from Europe, Japan is providing Ukraine with considerable support – among other things, Japan has assisted Ukraine with the procurement of vital Patriot air defence systems.

Focus on economic security

During the Minister’s talks in Japan, the security of the German and European economies will be discussed, as will international trading routes, on which major economies such as Germany and Japan are particularly reliant. In the Indo-Pacific, China is being increasingly assertive in striving for regional hegemony and in this process is also calling principles of international law into question. This shows that the freedom, security and prosperity of Europe and the Indo-Pacific are closely interlinked. That is why Germany remains committed to strengthening the rules-based international order in the Indo-Pacific region. Foreign Minister Wadephul will therefore once more champion the principles of free shipping routes, of open markets and free trade during his visit.

Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul stated the following prior to his departure:

Japan hosting the world at the EXPO in Osaka

The Minister will travel on the Shinkansen, Japan’s high-speed train, to the country’s second largest city, Osaka, which lies further to the west. The train takes only 2 hours and 11 minutes for the journey, which is just over 500 kilometres.

Japan is hosting the world in Osaka this year at EXPO 2025. As a window to the future, the world exhibition shows how we can make our societies more resilient and better equipped for the future through innovative technology and cooperation. Foreign Minister Wadephul will visit both the Japanese and the German pavilions in the EXPO grounds. The German pavilion is focusing on the circular economy: the cylindrical buildings were constructed in a fully circular fashion, which means that all the materials used can be re-used or recycled.

Indonesia: Economic power with great potential

After his visit to Japan, Foreign Minister Wadephul will travel on to Indonesia. With more than 280 million inhabitants, the country is the fourth most populous country on earth. Indonesia is thus an important democratic partner in the region and our relations are close and friendly. In Jakarta, Foreign Minister Wadephul will have political talks with his colleague Sugiono.

As a rising economic power, Indonesia holds great potential for Germany. Following ten years of negotiations, the EU and Indonesia only recently agreed on a free trade agreement, which is expected to be signed in the autumn. Many German companies are already successfully investing in Indonesia. Among other things, Foreign Minister Wadephul will visit a production plant in Jakarta operated by the German commercial vehicle manufacturer Daimler Truck.

Indonesia also plays a key role in the region: the headquarters of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), a group of ten states in the region which have joined together to coordinate political and economic matters, is in Jakarta. Alongside Indonesia, member states include Thailand, the Philippines and Singapore. Foreign Minister Wadephul will meet ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn.