(Adnkronos) – In talks in Rome on Monday, Italy’s premier Giorgia Meloni and Japanese counterpart Sanae Takaichi underlined the “longstanding bonds of friendship and collaboration” uniting their countries and agreed to further deepen cooperation in the increasingly crucial space sector, to stimulate innovation and drive its economic growth, said a statement from Meloni’s office.
The two leaders agreed to “further explore ways to concretely support smmall and medium enterprises (SMEs) and start-ups while promoting commercial partnerships between their respective space industries, including through the respective funding mechanisms,” said the statement.
Italy and Japan are committed to facilitating mutual access to space and promoting commercial cooperation between private sectors, as well as advancing space technologies and know-how, according to the statement.
The two countries will work together on establishing guidelines and standards to encourage “sustainable and resopnsible” use of outer space, ensuring its protection for future generations, said the statement, noting the mulilateral forums in which Italy and Japan “participate actively” including the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS), which Italy is chairing this year.
“Italy and Japan recognize that space is a critical domain for national security and international stability. Both countries are committed to supporting the development of the Combined Space Operations Initiative (CSpO) and intend to strengthen cooperation on space security and defence, including space domain awareness,” the statement said.
Italy and Japan will also strengthen collaboration on lunar exploration and “their collaboration in activities involving the realization of the lunar Multi-Purpose Habitation Module and the Pressurized Rover in coordination with NASA (the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration), the statement continued.
“Through their respective space agencies and industrial and research sectors, both countries will pursue joint work related to Low Earth 3 Orbit, the International Space Station (including the CALET cosmic ray telescope) and future space station,” the statement went on.
Italy and Japan also agreed to strengthen their cooperation on: earth observation and disaster risk management; solar activity and solar physics; space physics and studies of the Cosmos including deep space observation to improve early detection and precise orbit determination of potentially hazardous asteroids, to advance knowledge of the Big Bang and Cosmic Inflation of the Universe; space sustainability; skills development to support the growth of their respective space industries; space sector partnerships between public and private institutions; and regional cooperation.
Italy and Japan recognise the importance of cooperation in space with third countries, particularly with the Global South, including African and Southeast Asian countries, the statement noted.
“Italy and Japan will exchange information on their respective programmes, such as Italy’s (5.5 billion euro) ‘Mattei Plan’ (to propel Africa’s economic development),” said the statement.
“Cooperation may also extend to South-East Asia, where Japan has promoted the application of peaceful uses of space activities for socio-economic development through APRSAF (Asia-Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum) more than 30 years and Italy has supported initiatives with ASEAN,” the statement added.
During their previous meeting in Tokyo in January, Meloni and Takaichi elevated bilateral ties to a “special strategic partnership. Italy and Japan are this year celebrating 160 years of diplomatic relations.
