Today, the Government approved the fifth edition of the Japan Plan, which outlines the relations between Catalonia and Japan for the 2024-2027 period with a stable and permanent framework, as well as the close link with the Consulate General of Japan in Barcelona through its working groups. The document will be presented at the annual plenary meeting of the Catalonia Japan Committee, the body that has drafted the plan, on Friday, 16 February at the Palau de la Generalitat, and later in Japan.

The Plan is framed within a context of excellent bilateral relations between the two countries, which this year will also witness a significant milestone with the inauguration of the Government Delegation to Japan, based in Tokyo, scheduled for the second half of 2024.

The strong relations between Catalonia and Japan were already evident during the visit of the Minister for Foreign Action and European Union, Meritxell Serret i Aleu, to Japan at the end of 2023. During the trip, it was announced that the Government will sign a bilateral collaboration agreement with the Government of Kyoto, the first between Catalonia and Japan, making Kyoto the main partner of Catalonia in the Asian country.

A cross-cutting collaboration between Catalonia and Japan

Fruit of the cross-cutting collaboration between various ministries of the Government, the 2024-2027 Japan Plan includes four main objectives:

1. Reinforce the priority role of Japan for Catalonia and the presence and prestige of Catalonia in Japan.
2. Structure the institutional relationship between Catalonia and Japan and facilitate its monitoring and assessment.
3. Coordinate cohesive foreign action towards Japan.
4. Promote initiatives that strengthen the ties between Catalonia and Japan.

Four strategic lines, 46 actions

The 2024-2027 Japan Plan is structured into 46 actions distributed across four strategic lines: business, tourism, universities and research, and culture.

1. The business strategic line will focus on enhancing competitiveness, improving infrastructure and the business environment, fostering relationships with Japanese companies operating in Catalonia, facilitating the internationalisation of Catalan companies and start-ups in Japan, and promoting the Catalonia brand following its recognition as a World Region of Gastronomy (2025).
2. The tourism strategic line will focus on establishing direct flights between Barcelona and Tokyo, and reinforce actions related to safety and emergencies.
3. The universities and research line will look to drive strategic and institutional alliances, enhance collaboration in research and innovation, and promote student and university staff mobility.
4. Finally, the culture strategic line will promote the presence of the Catalan language and culture in Japan and vice versa, facilitating exchanges of artists and major cultural institutions between the two countries.

Highly positive assessment of the collaboration with Japan

The fifth edition of the Japan Plan was overseen by the Catalonia Japan Committee. Established in 2009, it is currently chaired by the Government Secretary for Foreign Action and European Union, the Consulate General of Japan in Barcelona, and, as a new addition, the Government Delegation to Japan, headed by delegate, Mònica Castella Pujadó.

The fifth Japan Plan takes over from the fourth (2020-2023), during the implementation of which the Government’s bilateral relations with Japan have significantly intensified.

The most important milestones include the launch of joint collaboration in the European project EU-Japan Region to Region Innovation, in which Catalonia and five Japanese prefectures collaborate in areas such as green and industrial transition, health, competitiveness, and demographic transition.