Ahead of Israel Visit, Japan’s Abe Looks to Expand Ties

Ahead of Israel Visit, Japan’s Abe Looks to Expand Ties
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe at the prime minister’s office in Tokyo, Japan, May 12, 2014 (AP photo by Toru Hanai).

Earlier this month, Israel approved a plan to strengthen trade ties and boost security cooperation with Japan. In an email interview, Ben-Ami Shillony, a professor emeritus in East Asian studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, discussed Israel-Japan relations.

WPR: How extensive are Israel-Japan relations, and what are the main areas of cooperation?

Ben-Ami Shillony: Israel and Japan are two highly industrialized democracies, complementing each other in many ways. Despite its small territory and population, Israel is today one of the leading high-tech and startup nations in the world. Japan, the third-largest economy in the world but grappling with an economic recession, is in need of scientific and technological breakthroughs to gain new markets and achieve economic growth.

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