The focus of the trip is on maintaining bilateral relations between Switzerland and Japan as well as on discussing current geopolitical and economic challenges. The two countries celebrated the 160th anniversary of their diplomatic relations last year. The official visit by Ms Riniker and her delegation begins in Tokyo, where they will be received by the President of the Japanese House of Representatives (Shūgiin), Fukushirō Nukaga. High-level courtesy visits to various ministries are also on the agenda. These talks will focus on the excellent long-standing bilateral relations, on the cooperation between the two countries in the fields of business, research and innovation, as well as on the global security architecture and disaster prevention.
In addition to the political discussions, the delegation in Tokyo will exchange views with representatives of Swiss and Japanese companies and the Japan Business Federation Keidanren on topics such as innovation, economic security and sustainability. Furthermore, the delegation will visit the G-Cans infrastructure project – the world's largest underground floodwater protection drainage system that demonstrates Japan's technological innovation capabilities.
The trip will also focus on cooperation between the two countries in the field of science and innovation. In Tokyo, the parliamentarians will visit Shimizu, one of Japan's largest construction companies, which is interested in Swiss start-ups and innovation parks in the field of sustainability. Visits are also planned to the renowned University of Kyoto, which has a strategic partnership with the University of Zurich; the international hub for future medicine Nakanoshima Qross; and the Swissnex office in Japan, which opened in 2023. To round off the trip, Ms Riniker will attend the opening ceremony of the Osaka Expo 2025 and inaugurate the Swiss Pavilion, which is dedicated to Switzerland's potential for innovation. The pavilion showcases forward-looking solutions in the fields of life sciences, environmental protection, robotics and artificial intelligence, with a focus on three topics: 'Life', 'Planet' and 'Augmented Human'.
The delegation consists of the following members of the National Council:
- Maja Riniker, president of the National Council
- Pierre-André Page, first vice president of the National Council
- Katja Christ, second vice president of the National Council
- Thomas Aeschi, president of the SVP parliamentary group
- Samuel Bendahan, co-president of the SP parliamentary group
- Philipp Matthias Bregy, president of The Centre parliamentary group
- Damien Cottier, president of the FDP.The Liberals parliamentary group
- Corina Gredig, president of the GLP parliamentary group
- Aline Trede, president of The Greens parliamentary group