Statement by Minister for Foreign Affairs Masahiko Koumura on the Hatching of a Baby Japanese Crested Ibis

May 21, 1999

I am really delighted at the news that the Japanese crested ibises Youyou and Yangyang, that were presented by the People's Republic of China, have successfully hatched a chick, an event which we have been long awaiting.
This chick, the focus of the warm attention of the peoples of Japan and China, is a significant development of the achievements in the visit to Japan by President Jiang Zemin of China, in November 1998.
As seen in this cooperation concerning the Japanese crested ibises, the Government of Japan intends to further strengthen its friendly relations with China by keeping close contact towards the 21st century.

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