Latin America and the Caribbean

On　Wednesday, February 19, a reception to welcome the participants of the “Young Diplomats Invitation Program for CARICOM Members” and to commemorate of the “Japan-CARICOM Friendship Year 2014” was held.

 

In the opening remarks, Mr. Hirotaka Ishihara, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan stated that Japan and the member states of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) share fundamental values such as democracy and the rule of law and work closely together in the international arena. Mr. Ishihara indicated that with the commemoration of the Japan-CARICOM Friendship Year as catalyst, Japan looks forward to promote exchanges at various levels.

 

Mr. Takeo Kawamura, Chairman of the Japan-CARICOM Parliamentary Friendship League, stated that the Friendship League will reinvigorate to promote exchanges of Parliamentary Members between both sides in order to deepen and enhance the relationship between Japan and  CARICOM member states, all of which are important partners of Japan.

 

On behalf of the young diplomats from CARICOM, ** Mr. Carlton Rommie Henry, an  official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Saint Lucia, extended his ftatitude for the invitation and expressed hope that the visit serve to strengthen the relationship between Japan and the CARICOM countries.

 

After a toast by ** Mr. Ken Shimauchi, Ambassador for the Japan-CARICOM Friendship Year, participants conversed in a friendly atmosphere.

 

More than 100 people from wide range of fields in the public and private sectors,  government-affiliated agencies and the cultural community, including House of Representatives member Yoshiaki Takaki, also member of the Japan-CARICOM Parliamentary Friendship league, the Ambassadors of Jamaica, and the Republic of Guyana, Ambassador-designate of the Republic of Surinam, the Charge d'Affaires of Haiti, and Trinidad and Tobago amongst others attended the reception.