Prof. Ferhat Pirinççi, Deputy Head of Communications at the Presidency’s Directorate of Communications, held a series of meetings on strategic communication, public diplomacy and the media during his visit to Japan for the STRATCOM Roundtable programme.
As part of the programme, Deputy Head of Communications Pirinççi held a bilateral meeting with Hiroaki Ichiba, Director of Global Communications at the Japanese Prime Minister’s Office, during which they discussed enhancing cooperation between Türkiye and Japan in strategic communication, as well as countering disinformation, disaster communication and crisis management.
The meeting emphasised the importance of sharing the two countries' institutional knowledge to combat misinformation and disinformation, as well as to strengthen expert-level contacts. The parties discussed opportunities for cooperation to ensure that the public is informed accurately and promptly during disasters and crises, facilitate the effective flow of information, and strengthen inter-institutional coordination.
The meeting, which also covered current events in the Middle East and Eurasia, focused on the global ramifications of regional crises and on Türkiye's diplomatic endeavours and mediation efforts. The parties discussed ways to advance the existing dialogue in the field of strategic communication through concrete cooperation.
Meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
Deputy Head of Communications Pirinççi also held a bilateral meeting with Yohei Onishi, Japan's Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs.
The meeting evaluated the potential for cooperation in light of regional trends, as well as the strategic communication, public diplomacy, educational, and economic facets of Turkish-Japanese relations.
The parties exchanged views on strengthening Türkiye-Japan relations at both the institutional and societal levels and advancing cooperation through concrete projects.
As part of his programme in Japan, Deputy Head of Communications Pirinççi also met with the Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye to Tokyo, Oğuzhan Ertuğrul.
Visits to Japanese news agencies
As part of his engagements in Japan, Deputy Head of Communications Pirinççi visited Kyodo News Agency and Jiji Press, where he met with Kyodo News President Toshimitsu Sawai and Jiji Press President Katsuhiko Sakai.
The meetings focused on enhancing Türkiye-Japan media relations, enabling direct on-the-ground coverage of international developments, and strengthening the role of media organisations in ensuring the flow of accurate information.
The discussions also addressed the impact of disinformation and generative artificial intelligence on the media ecosystem, while emphasising the importance of access to reliable information, information security, and expanding institutional contacts between media organisations in the two countries.
The meetings also covered İstanbul’s role as an international hub for news and communications in light of Türkiye’s geopolitical position and developments in the surrounding regions. The discussion highlighted how Japanese media organisations on the ground in Türkiye help ensure that the public in both countries receives accurate and comprehensive information.
Deputy Head of Communications Pirinççi’s engagements in Japan underscored the shared commitment to strengthening institutional dialogue and advancing cooperation between Türkiye and Japan in the fields of strategic communications, public diplomacy, and media.
