March 13, 2025
On February 28, Keio University welcomed H.E. Radosław Sikorski, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland, to Mita Campus for an event titled "Europe in the Changing World." Attendees included officials from the Polish government and the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Japan, as well as ambassadors and embassy officials from various countries in Europe and elsewhere. Keio University was represented by President Kohei Itoh, Vice-President Motohiro Tsuchiya, and Professor Yoko Hirose from the Faculty of Policy Management. Many Keio students, faculty, and staff also participated in the event.
In his opening remarks, President Itoh extended a warm welcome to Foreign Minister Sikorski, spoke about the role Poland is expected to play in the future amidst an ever-shifting geopolitical landscape, and expressed his hopes for a meaningful dialogue and discussion.
In his speech, Foreign Minister Sikorski touched on the historical ties between Japan and Poland, and elaborated on the direction the EU and Poland should take amidst the constantly-evolving global situation. He also emphasized the importance of safeguarding peace with security guarantees in areas including defense, energy, and food.
This was followed by a dialogue session between the foreign minister and participants, moderated by Professor Hirose. A lively discussion took place in English and Polish on a wide range of topics such as the balancing of geopolitical forces, the role that Japan should play in global affairs, and the present state of cooperation among European countries.
Photo: Aki Takematsu