Press Release: 2005: EU-Japan Year of People to People Exchanges

The official launch of the EU-Japan Year of People to People Exchange took place in Brussels on 20 January 2005. This campaign was aimed at encouraging and promoting face to face exchanges and contacts between people, as well as events and initiatives throughout 2005 to promote better understanding of European and Japanese society and culture. The event was celebrated with an invitation-only reception for European and Japanese VIPs at the newly opened Berlaymont building of the European Commission and featured Japanese music and dance. Eneko Landaburu, European Commission Director General for External Relations, co-hosted the event with His Excellency Kazuo Asakai, Ambassador of Japan to the EU. They also welcomed Japanese Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Mr Itsunori Onodera.