At the residence of the Japanese Ambassador in Athens, an event that went beyond the boundaries of a typical diplomatic reception took place yesterday, Thursday evening: the Greece-Japan Maritime Innovation Summit.

This initiative, co-organized by the Embassy of Japan and Weathernews Japan, marked another step in the dynamic course of cooperation between two countries that are the founding naval powers of the world – Greece and Japan.

In the presence of the Minister of Shipping and Insular Policy Vassilis Kikilias, Japanese Ambassador Ito Koichi, diplomats, representatives of the shipping industry, including shipowners Ioannis Xylas-Chairman of INTERCARGO, and Aliki Polemi, and senior company executives, the event highlighted the deep geo-economic importance of the Athens-Tokyo shipping link.

The Japanese Ambassador Ito Koichi referred extensively to the ties that unite the two countries, stressing that shipping is not just an economic activity, but a common cultural foundation and a strategic tool for stability.