Japanese-German Forum

The Japanese-German Forum (formerly the Japanese-German Dialogue Forum) was created in 1993, at the joint initiative of Japanese Prime Minister Kiichi Miyazawa and German Chancellor Helmut Kohl, as a private, bilateral dialogue designed to promote mutual cooperation a nd understanding. The discussions focus on issues related to the bilateral relationship, foreign policy issues, and common challenges arising from socioeconomic and cultural developments in both countries. Following the Group's annual meetings, a joint statement is drafted for submission to the Japanese prime minister and the chancellor of Germany that documents common challenges facing both countries and outlines recommendations for German-Japanese cooperative action. JCIE serves as the Japanese secretariat for the program, while the Japanese-German Center Berlin acts as the German secretariat.