The Office of the President of the Republic
Press Release 37/2017
4 July 2017
Mr Shinzō Abe, Prime Minister of Japan, is arriving in Finland on an official visit with his spouse, Mrs Akie Abe. The visit will be hosted by Mr Sauli Niinistö, President of the Republic, with his spouse, Mrs Jenni Haukio. President Niinistö and Mrs Haukio will receive the visitors at a welcoming ceremony in the Presidential Palace on 10 July 2017.
The programme of the visit will include a private discussion between the president and the prime minister as well as talks with a larger delegation. The topics will include the political and economic relations between Finland and Japan and topical international questions. Prime Minister Abe will travel to Finland with a high-level delegation. The visit will conclude with a luncheon attended by a large group of Finns representing different spheres of Finnish society.
On his official visit to Japan in March 2016, President Niinistö had the opportunity of meeting Prime Minister Abe. The previous state visit from Japan at this level took place in autumn 2006, when Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi visited Finland. Emperor Akihito came to Finland on a state visit in May 2000.
This is the first time Mr Abe will visit the Nordic countries in his role as Prime Minister. Mr Abe has visited Finland once before in 1985 when he was serving as a personal assistant to his father, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Shintaro Abe.