While there is a large geographical distance between the two regions, Japan and Central Europe both share a strong commitment towards building stronger democratic ties, strengthening economic relations, and coordinating on global issues such as climate change and security concerns over the rise of China. Over the years, the V4+Japan framework has been loosely developed rather than institutionalized due to various reasons including growing differences in the V4’s foreign policy, political, and security agendas, and has been exacerbated by diverging views towards the EU framework, a strong trading block, and partner to Japan. As the V4 grapples with aligning on these issues, external challenges such as China continues to assert itself in the region. How can Japan and V4 members institutionalize relations? Will the V4 rely on the Japan-EU partnership to drive this enhancement of ties?

Speakers:
- Yoko Iwama, Professor of International Relations & Director of Maritime Safety and Security Policy Program, National Graduate Institute For Policy Studies, Japan
- Eliška Žigová, Director, Department of Asia and Pacific, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic
- Oskar Pietrewicz, Senior Analyst, The Polish Institute of International Affairs, Poland
- Gergely Salát, Senior Research Fellow, Institute for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Hungary
-Róbert Vancel, Lecturer & Assistant Professor, Matej Bel University in Banská Bystrica, Slovakia

Moderation: Alexandra Visnerova, Project Manager, EUROPEUM Institute for European Policy
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Te online was broadcasted on January 11, 2021.