Political relations
Relations between the Republic of Serbia and Japan are traditionally good and friendly, with both sides interested in intensifying cooperation across all areas and strengthening political dialogue.
The most recent visit at the level of Head of State was that of the then President of the Republic of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, in September 2025.
The then Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia, Slavica Đukić-Dejanović, visited Japan in November 2011.
The then Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe, paid an official visit to the Republic of Serbia in January 2018, while the then Prime Minister of the Republic of Serbia, Ana Brnabić, attended the ceremonies marking the enthronement of Emperor Naruhito of Japan, held in Tokyo in October 2019.
In addition, the then Prime Minister Ana Brnabić attended the state funeral of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Tokyo in September 2022.
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia Marko Đurić visited Japan in August 2025. The then Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, Yōko Kamikawa, visited Serbia in July 2024.
Correspondence between the Japanese Imperial House and sovereign Serbia continued until the Second World War. During that period, representatives of the Japanese Imperial Family made three visits to Serbia: Prince Yorihito Komatsu in 1893, Prince Atsumaro Konoe in 1899, and Prince Kuniyoshi Kuni on 3 March 1909.
The Japanese Red Cross provided material assistance to Serbia during the First World War, from 1914 to 1918.
A Trade Agreement between Serbia and Japan was signed in 1923.
The period of the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY) was marked by visits by President Josip Broz Tito to Japan in 1968 and by Japan's Crown Prince Akihito to Belgrade in June 1976.
Economic relations
According to the data of the Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia, total trade in goods with Japan in 2025 amounted to EUR 319.1 million, of which exports from the Serbia accounted for EUR 71.3 million, while imports amounted to EUR 247.8 million.
In addition to JTI, a company that has been present on the market of the Republic of Serbia for a number of years, and other important Japanese companies (Panasonic Electric Works, Аsahi Food and Healthcare, Mitsui Co, Mitsubishi Cоrp, Itochu, etc.), businesses in the Republic of Serbia were also started during the last three years by companies such as Nidec, Toyo Tires, Yazaki and Mayekawa.
The Republic of Serbia welcomes the process of implementation of the project for the construction of the flue gas desulphurisation plant at the TPP Nikola Tesla A and TPP Nikola Tesla B with the participation of Mitsubishi Hitachi Power System.
Bilateral agreements
Trade and Navigation Treaty between the Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia (FPRY) and Japan, signed on 28 February 1959 (Supplement to the Official Gazette No. 7/59; Collection of Treaties No. 7/59; United Nations Treaty Series, Volume 341).
Agreement on Cultural Cooperation between the FPRY and Japan, signed on 15 March 1968 (Supplement to the Official Gazette No. 3/69).
Agreement between the Government of the SFRY and the Government of Japan on Cooperation in the Fields of Science and Technology, signed on 22 May 1981 (Official Gazette of the SFRY No. 6/82).
Agreement on Technical Cooperation between the Council of Ministers of Serbia and Montenegro and the Government of Japan, signed on 30 November 2005 (Official Gazette of Serbia and Montenegro – International Treaties No. 4/2006).
Agreement between the Republic of Serbia and Japan on the Abolition of Visas (Exchange of Notes), signed on 24 February 2011 (Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia – International Treaties No. 4/11).
Agreement for the Avoidance of Double Taxation, signed in 2020.
Agreement between the Republic of Serbia and Japan on the Promotion and Protection of Investment, signed on 24 December 2025.
Joint Statement (Declaration) on the Agreement in Principle Reached Concerning the Agreement between the Republic of Serbia and Japan on the Promotion and Protection of Investment (i.e. the conclusion of negotiations on the Bilateral Investment Treaty – BIT), signed in Tokyo on 16 September 2025.
Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in the Field of Science, signed in Tokyo on 16 September 2025.
Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in the Field of Advanced Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), signed in Tokyo on 16 September 2026.
Contact information
The Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in Tokyo: https://tokyo.mfa.gov.rs/
The Embassy of Japan in Belgrade: http://www.yu.emb-japan.go.jp/
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia - tel. +381-11-306-8585; mfa@mfa.rs