OPCW Chief Meets Japan’s Defense Vice Minister
The Director-General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), Ambassador Fernando Arias, met with Japan’s Parliamentary Vice Minister of Defence, H.E. Mr Kazuhiro Kobayashi, on 28 April 2025 at the OPCW’s Headquarters in The Hague.
The Parliamentary Vice Minister and the Director-General exchanged views on major challenges in international security and their implications for the implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). Both sides reaffirmed the importance of multilateralism in tackling global security issues. They agreed to strengthen cooperation in upholding the global norm against chemical weapons.
Parliamentary Vice Minister Kobayashi acknowledged the growing importance of the OPCW in advancing global chemical weapons disarmament and non-proliferation, particularly as the international community faces a severe security environment. He also expressed “our intention is to further strengthen cooperation with the OPCW, particularly in light of the accreditation of the Japan Ground Self-Defence Force (JGSDF) Chemical School as an OPCW Designated Laboratory last year.”
The Director-General expressed his gratitude to the Government of Japan for its consistent support to the OPCW and the Organisation’s mission to achieve a world free of chemical weapons. “The pragmatic contributions from our Member States, including Japan, have played a crucial role in helping OPCW advance its key agenda and enhancing the Organisation’s capabilities to address chemical security threats worldwide,” he said.
https://www.opcw.org/media-centre/news/2025/05/opcw-director-general-meets-japans-parliamentary-vice-minister-defence