France and Japan: Building Growth and Stability in an Uncertain World

Over the past decades, France and Japan have forged one of the most enduring and forward-looking economic partnerships among advanced economies. Rooted in shared values of stability, innovation, and openness, this cooperation has evolved from trade and investment to a broader strategic alliance encompassing digital transformation, green transition, and supply-chain resilience.

Today, both nations face a world marked by economic fragmentation, demographic shifts, and rapid technological changes. Yet these challenges also open new avenues for cooperation –from artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and quantum computing, to sustainable finance, energy transition, and the circular economy. France’s strong industrial base, innovative start-up ecosystem, and leadership in sustainable technologies complement Japan’s unparalleled technological expertise, manufacturing excellence, and long-term investment culture.

This conference aims to explore how France and Japan can together build a new architecture for economic cooperation –one that promotes sustainable growth, technological sovereignty, and an open, rules-based international order.

Ultimately, this dialogue is about more than economics. It is about reaffirming a shared ambition: to make the Franco-Japanese partnership a driving force for progress, innovation, and trust in an era of global uncertainty.

Arthur Sogno Pèes is Financial Counsellor and Deputy Head of the Regional Economic Department for Japan and South Korea, Embassy of France in Japan, Banque de France’s Representative for Japan and South Korea.
He joined the Banque de France in 2015 as Deputy Head of the Economic and Financial Department in its branch office of Grenoble, where he piloted financial analyses of SMEs, as well as monthly business surveys. He was also involved in credit mediation with financially distressed companies and provided support to heads of small enterprises.
From 2017 to August 2023, he occupied several positions within the General Inspectorate of the Banque de France. Firstly, as On-site banking Supervisor, focusing on credit, liquidity and operational risks, as well as on ML/TF risks. In this context, he was seconded twice to the European Central Bank to take part in cross-border on-site inspections. Secondly, in 2021 and 2022, he was appointed Internal Auditor to cooperate and then lead, as Deputy Head of mission, audits within the Banque de France, mainly in its regional branches.
Since September 2023, he has been appointed Financial Counsellor and Deputy Head of the Regional Economic Department for Japan and South Korea at the Embassy of France in Tokyo, and Banque de France’s Representative for Japan and South Korea.
Arthur is a graduate from Sciences Po Bordeaux, where he received a Master’s Degree in Public Administration (2014). He also started specialising in banking regulation and financial stability at the London School of Economics and Political Science (2013).

Moderator: Malo MOFAKHAMI (USPN, FRIJ-MFJ, CNRS)
Organization: FRIJ-MFJ
Co-organization: CCI France Japon