Prime Minister Marin to meet with Japanese Prime Minister Kishida in Tokyo

On Wednesday 11 May, Prime Minister Sanna Marin will meet with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Tokyo. Her programme for the day also includes a discussion with Speaker of the House of Representatives Hiroyuki Hosoda.

Early Wednesday morning, Prime Minister Marin spoke at a high-level seminar exploring the impacts of digitalisation on society. Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Ville Skinnari and a Finnish business delegation also took part in the seminar.

In her speech, Prime Minister Marin highlighted the importance of promoting a human-centred approach, equality and the green transition amid the digital transformation. 

“Both Japan and Finland have world-class digital skills. This is an asset as the world becomes truly digital,” the Prime Minister emphasised. The data economy, artificial intelligence and the platform economy are examples of megatrends where Japan and Finland can work together and lead the way globally. 

“As the world becomes more digital, we need to have trust in digital services. Maintaining the trust of the public is important when dealing with sensitive data. This is a success factor in developing efficient digital services and helps to create a good business environment for innovations and investments,” the Prime Minister said. 

“Japan shares the same values as Finland. We need to use data and new technologies in a secure and ethical way. There is no other choice,” the Prime Minister stated.

The seminar was organised by the Japanese Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications in cooperation with Business Finland and the University of Tokyo. Its objective was to increase cooperation and dialogue between Finland and Japan in the construction of future digital networks. 

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, with whom Prime Minister Marin will meet later on Wednesday, also gave a video address at the event. In their meeting, Prime Ministers Marin and Kishida will discuss bilateral relations between Finland and Japan, the security situation in Europe and the current situation in Japan’s neighbouring regions. Cooperation on international issues will also be on the agenda.  

Prime Minister Marin is joined on her visit to Japan by a delegation of ten Finnish companies coordinated by Business Finland. The following companies are represented: CSC – IT Center for Science Ltd, Finnair Plc, 6G Flagship, Haltian Ltd, IQM Quantum Computers, Nokia Plc, ReOrbit Ltd, Academy of Finland, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd and WithSecure Corporation. 

Inquiries: Lauri Voionmaa, Special Adviser (International Affairs), tel. +358 295 160 306, Tuulia Pitkänen, Special Adviser (EU Affairs), tel. +358 295 160 231, Prime Minister’s Office; Satu Maaranen, Executive Director, Customer Management & Fast Growth, Business Finland (business delegation), tel. +358 40 592 0929