Meeting with Japan's Minister for Foreign Affairs about collaboration in polar research
On January 10, Katarina Gårdfeldt, Director-General at the Swedish Polar Research Secretariat, met with Japan's Minister for Foreign Affairs, Yōko Kamikawa, about future collaborations in polar research. Japan's Ambassador to Sweden, Masaki Noke, and polar researchers Martin Jakobsson, Stockholm University and Dag Avango, Luleå University of Technology attended the meeting.
Yōko Kamikawa told us that for a long time, she had been involved in issues related to the Arctic and worked to promote Japanese research on the Arctic. The Minister of Foreign Affairs also noted that the Nordic countries are important cooperation partners for Japan regarding cooperation in the Arctic. Her visit to Sweden and Finland aimed to deepen "Japan's Nordic Diplomacy Initiative".
Katarina Gårdfeldt, Dag Avango and Martin Jakobsson talked about joint research in natural sciences, such as the international expeditions with the icebreaker Oden and international research in social sciences. For example, the effects of global warming and industrialization on the Arctic were mentioned. Both sides also exchanged ideas on how Japan and the Nordic countries, including Sweden, can continue research cooperation on the Arctic.
