TOKYO - Prime Minister Ishiba met with Montenegrin Prime Minister Spajic in Tokyo on May 28th during the latter’s official visit to Japan, marking what both leaders described as a historic occasion.
The summit drew attention not only for its diplomatic significance but also for a rare moment: Spajic delivered his opening remarks entirely in Japanese, underscoring his personal ties to the country.
"I would like to extend a heartfelt welcome to Prime Minister Spajic. Next year will mark the 20th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Montenegro," said Ishiba. "Montenegro, a nation that shares values and principles with Japan, is an extremely important partner for us. It is wonderful to see EU accession negotiations progressing under your leadership. Your experience studying at Saitama University as a government-sponsored student is also a strong reassurance for Japan. I believe this may be the first time in Japanese history that a foreign prime minister has engaged in dialogue entirely in Japanese. I expect today’s meeting to be a meaningful and memorable one."
In response, Spajic expressed his gratitude in fluent Japanese, saying, "Thank you very much, Prime Minister Kishida, for making time for this meeting. I hope this summit will open a new chapter of friendship between our two countries. I want to improve and build our bilateral relations as much as possible."
He went on to praise Japan for its stable cooperation and emphasized a desire to strengthen economic ties. "Montenegro shares the values of rule of law, democracy, multilateralism, peace, and prosperity with Japan," he said. "We fully support Japan’s vision for a Free and Open International Order and welcome regional cooperation and support for EU accession through the Western Balkans Initiative. As a NATO member, Montenegro takes its security responsibilities seriously and fully supports cooperation among the Indo-Pacific Four (IP4) countries. We also back Japan’s strategy to preserve freedom and stability in the Indo-Pacific region."
The meeting was widely described as symbolic of deepening ties between Japan and the Western Balkans, as both sides committed to expanding diplomatic, economic, and security cooperation.
Source: TBS
