Political relations
Relations between the Republic of Serbia and Japan are traditionally good and friendly with mutual interest to intensify cooperation in all areas and strengthen political dialogue. The latest visit at the level of heads of state was the visit of the President of the Republic of Serbia at the time Boris Tadić in March 2011. The Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia at the time Slavica Đukić-Dejanović visited Japan in November 2011, representing the latest visit at that level between the two states. The Prime Minister of Japan at the time Shinzō Abe was in an official visit to the Republic of Serbia on 15—16 January 2018, while the Prime Minister of the Republic of Serbia Ana Brnabić attended the Enthronement Ceremony of the Emperor of Japan Naruhito held on 20—24 October 2019 in Tokyo.
Also, Prime Minister Ana Brnabić attended the state funeral of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Tokyo on 27-28. September 2022.
The latest visit at the level of foreign affairs ministers was the visit of the MFA of Japan at the time Taro Kono to the Republic of Serbia on 19 August 2020.
The continuity of correspondence between the Imperial House of Japan and sovereign Serbia was maintained until World War II, with three visits by representatives of the Japanese imperial family to Serbia, conducted in 1893 (Prince Yoriho Komatsu), 1899 (Prince Atsumaro Konoe) and 3 March 1909 (Prince Kuniyoshi Kuni).
The Japanese Red Cross delivered material aid to Serbia during World War I, 1914—1918.
A trade agreement between Serbia and Japan was signed on 1923.
The period of the former SFRY was marked by visits of President Josip Broz Tito to Japan in 1968 and the Japanese Crown Prince Akihito to Belgrade on 12—15 June 1976.
Economic relations
The total exchange of goods between the Republic of Serbia and Japan in 2022 amounted to USD 313.834 million, with exports from the Republic of Serbia of USD 94.549 million and imports from Japan of USD 219.285 million.
In addition to JTI, a company that has been present on the market of the Republic of Serbia for a number of years, and other important Japanese companies (Panasonic Electric Works, Аsahi Food and Healthcare, Mitsui Co, Mitsubishi Cоrp, Itochu, etc.), businesses in the Republic of Serbia were also started during the last three years by companies such as Nidec, Toyo Tires, Yazaki and Mayekawa.
The Republic of Serbia welcomes the process of implementation of the project for the construction of the flue gas desulphurisation plant at the TPP Nikola Tesla A and TPP Nikola Tesla B with the participation of Mitsubishi Hitachi Power System.
Bilateral agreements
- Agreement on Trade and Navigation between FPRY and Japan, signed on 28 February 1959 (The Official Gazette, No. 7/59 - Addendum, Collection of Agreements 7/59, Collection of Agreements of OUN, volume 341),
- Agreement on cultural cooperation between FPRY and Japan signed on 15 March 1968 (The Official Gazette, No. 3/69 - Addendum),
- Agreement between the Government of SFRY and the Government of Japan on cooperation in the field of science and technology, signed on 22 May 1981 (The Official Gazette of SFRY, No. 6/82)
- Agreement on technical cooperation between the Council of Ministers of Serbia and Montenegro and the Government of Japan, signed on 30 November 2005 (The Official Gazette of Serbia and Montenegro, No. 4/2006 - International Agreements)
- Agreement between the Republic of Serbia and Japan on the elimination of visas (exchange of notes), signed on 24 February 2011 (The Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia, No. 4/11 - International Agreements).
Contact information
The Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in Tokyo: http://www.tokyo.mfa.gov.rs/
The Embassy of Japan in Belgrade: http://www.yu.emb-japan.go.jp/
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia - Department for Asia, Australia and the Pacific (DAAP); tel. +381-11-306-8345; odazap@mfa.rs