Japanese Ambassador to RSU students: ‘The invasion of Ukraine reminded us of the importance of diplomacy’
On Tuesday, 30 September, Japanese Ambassador to Latvia Kensuke Yoshida gave a guest lecture to students of international relations and other programmes at Rīga Stradiņš University (RSU). He shared Japan's view on global security and the impact of the war in Ukraine on international relations. The ambassador emphasised that he was expressing his personal opinion, not the position of the Japanese government, and spoke about his experience working in Vladivostok during Russia's invasion of Ukraine three years ago.
‘The invasion of Ukraine reminded the world what happens when conflicts are not resolved diplomatically, but with violence,’
said Kensuke Yoshida, noting that for many countries, including neighbouring countries, long-term relations with Russia will depend on when and how the war ends. The ambassador, who has been working in Latvia since 2024, also recalled the Latvian president's visit to Japan in May this year, which was an important step in shaping the two countries' joint plans for the future.
The lecture was opened by RSU Chancellor Toms Baumanis, who emphasised the importance of cooperation between RSU and Japanese universities. The event was moderated by Beāte Livdanska, a lecturer at the RSU Faculty of Social Sciences. Meetings of this kind provide RSU students with a unique opportunity to gain first-hand insight into current global issues and strengthen their understanding of international relations.
