Deputy Prime Minister Albana Koçiu met Japan’s Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Defense Yohei Wakabayashi during his visit to Tirana. Wakabayashi became the first senior Japanese Defense Ministry official to visit Albania, according to the Japanese Embassy in Tirana. At the start of the meeting, he expressed regret over the damage caused by summer wildfires in Albania.

Meanwhile, the two sides discussed further steps to strengthen bilateral relations. They referred to Prime Minister Edi Rama’s visit to Japan in May 2026. The discussion also covered closer cooperation between the relevant defence authorities of Albania and Japan.

The meeting focused on strengthening bilateral ties and defence cooperation between the two countries.

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