Foreign Minister Lajčák: Slovak-Japanese relations making progress

Slovak-Japanese relations have improved in several areas recently, said Slovak Foreign and European Affairs Minister Miroslav Lajčák (Smer-SD nominee) in talks with his Japanese counterpart during his visit to Tokyo on Wednesday. Lajčák stressed that since their last meeting in November, Slovak-Japanese cooperation has been pushed forward on several levels. "We've agreed on the so-called 'working holidays' programme for young adults, negotiations about a social security agreement are in progress, Japan took part in the GLOBSEC 2016 international security forum in Bratislava for the first time and this autumn several members of the Japanese business association Keidanren will visit Slovakia." The latter will extend possibilities in terms of economic cooperation between Slovakia and Japan, claims the minister. At the moment, there are more than 50 Japanese companies in Slovakia, and they provide more than 10,000 jobs. On Wednesday the Slovak cabinet approved the so-called 'working holidays' programme, thereby enabling young Japanese adults of up to 30 years of age to work, study or travel in Slovakia. The aim is to get to know the local Slovak culture, traditions and other special characteristics in order to strengthen mutual understanding between Slovakia and Japan.