Japan's Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa will visit Bosnia and Herzegovina as part of her regional tour from July 17 to 20, during which she will also visit Serbia and Kosovo.

The goals of the visit are to encourage dialogue and cooperation personally with each country, building on Japan's efforts in promoting dialogue and implementing economic cooperation, within the framework of the “Cooperation Initiative in the Western Balkans”.

Also, one of the goals is to appeal in the country and abroad to the attitude of Japan to work for peace and stability while cooperating with the EU, to support regional reform and development and to strengthen bilateral economic relations, to continue support within the “Initiative for Cooperation in the Western Balkans”. In particular, to support efforts towards EU membership and contribute to the promotion of social and economic reforms in the region and intra-regional reconciliation, and strive to deepen trade and investment relations.

When it comes to the visit to BiH, the announcement noted that the unstable situation continues even after the signing of the Dayton Agreement. Mistrust between ethnic groups is deeply rooted and affects the governance of the state.

Bosnia and Herzegovina has a great affinity towards Japan, which supported its reconstruction and state-building immediately after the conflict (by providing over 56.3 billion yen in development aid by 2022).

The meetings will discuss the strengthening of bilateral relations, and Japan will call for cooperation between ethnic groups in order to achieve peace and stability in Bosnia.