European Union, Visegrad 4 and Japan: Tradition and Prospects for Cooperation

The IIR was pleased to invite you to the one-day international seminar focused on the tradition and cooperation between Europen Union and Japan, including also the Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). It took place on March 10th in Karolinum, Ovocný trh 560/5, 110 00, Prague - Stare Mesto.

10. 3. 2020 (9:00)

Carolinum, Charles University in Prague, Ovocný Trh 5, Prague 1

This seminar was held at the occasion of the 100th anniversary of establishing the diplomatic ties between Czechoslovakia and Japan, and on the Czech V4 Presidency. The key idea was to promote dialogue and cooperation between Japan, EU and V4 states in the multilateral and regional context, and to address the key issues for deepening mutual knowledge and communication.

The seminar was organized into two panels attended by Japanese as well as Central Europen scholars, diplomats, and media professionals.

Day 1 10/03/2020

9:30 - 10:00

OPENING REMARKS

Kaoru Shimazaki Ambassador of Japan to the Czech Republic

Moderator: Ondřej Ditrych Director of the Institute of International Relations Prague

10:00 - 12:00

PANEL 1: EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) and EU-Japan Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA) as the framework for strengthening EU-Japan ties.

Yukari Akeda Lecturer, Dokkyo University, Japan: Re-crafting EU-Japan Cooperation

Hiroyuki Akita Commentator and Journalist, Nikkei - Asian Review, Japan

Takashi Hosoda Associate Researcher, Charles University Prague

David Hutt columnist at the Diplomat and correspondent for Asia Times

Moderator: Rudolf Fürst Head of the Centre EU – Asia Relations, Institute of International Relations Prague

12:00 - 13:00

BUFFET LUNCH

13:00 - 15:00

PANEL 2: Visegrad 4 and Japan: Perspectives and developments

Michal Kolmaš Assistant Professor, Metropolitan University Prague, Czech Republic

Kaoru Natsuda Professor, College of International Management, Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU), Japan; Visiting Professor, Budapest Business School, Hungary

Robert Vancel Research Fellow, Central European Institute of Asian Studies, Slovak Republic

Moderator: Jan Sýkora Associated Professor, Institute of Asian Studies, Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic

15:00 - 15:30