Ukrainian president awards Order of Merit to Japanese ambassador

The report notes that the president received the ambassador on the occasion of the completion of his diplomatic mission in Ukraine.

"President Petro Poroshenko presented a state award of Ukraine - the Order of Merit, II degree - to Sumi for his significant contribution to the development of Ukrainian-Japanese relations," reads the statement.

In addition, the sides discussed topical issues of Ukrainian-Japanese relations. According to the press service, they spoke, in particular, about the deepening of the political dialogue at the highest level and the strengthening of cooperation in the field of security and defense.

Special attention was paid to trade and economic cooperation, the prospects for the introduction of a free trade area between the two countries and Japan's participation in the implementation of large-scale infrastructure projects in Ukraine.