In her speech at the conference, State Secretary Leskovar presented the achievements of Slovenia’s foreign policy in the empowerment of women and gender equality. She highlighted Slovenia’s gender quota system, which has helped increase the representation of women in politics. She also talked about the importance of models for the young, mentorship and cooperation. In her roundtable contribution, she emphasized Slovenia’s efforts toward a multilateral system based on respect for human rights, rule of law and a rules-based world order. Complex global challenges that reach beyond state borders can be solved only in cooperation and through active engagement of all state members of the international community.

At the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, State Secretary Leskovar met Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Kenji Yamada. At the Cabinet of the Prime Minister, she met his adviser and the secretary-general for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, Takeo Hirata. The importance of strengthening bilateral cooperation in politics and business, which is in the interest of Ljubljana and Tokyo, was discussed at both meetings. Japan appreciates Slovenia’s engagement in international organisations and is willing to cooperate even closer in fields of common interest – especially in the Western Balkans. At her meeting with Kenji Wakamiya, chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs in the House of Representatives, State Secretary Leskovar expressed a wish for the continuation of positive interparliamentary cooperation and interest in new Japanese investments in Slovenia.