Press Releases
Courtesy Calls by Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Takao Makino on the new President and the next Prime Minister of Georgia
On November 17 Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Takao Makino, after attending the inauguration ceremony of the President of Georgia in Tbilisi, paid courtesy calls on Mr. Giorgi Margvelashvili, the President of Georgia, and Mr. Irakli Garibashvili, the next Prime Minister of Georgia. The overview of the meeting is as follows.
1. Courtesy call on President Margvelashvili
(1) As the Special Envoy of the Prime Minister, Vice-Minister Makino handed to President Margvelashvili a personal letter from Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, and coveyed his sincere congratulations on President Margvelashvili’s inauguration. Vice-Minister Makino also conveyed a message from Prime Minister Abe concerning his wish to cooperate on promoting Japan-Georgia relations further, under President Margvelashvili’s leadership.
(2) In response, President Margvelashvili said that the citizens of Georgia respect Japan’s traditional culture and advanced technologies, and he expressed his gratitude, both personnally and as the representative of the citizens of Georgia, for the various support projects undertaken by the Government of Japan. President Margvelashvili also said that he wants to further advance the amicable relationship between Japan and Georgia going forward.
2. Courtesy call on next Prime Minister Garibashvili
(1) As the Special Envoy of the Prime Minister, Vice-Minister Makino conveyed his sincere congratulations on President Margvelashvili’s inauguration, and stated that the Government of Japan wants to deepen Japan-Georgia relations, including by contributing to the peaceful and democratic development of Georgia, by strengthening business ties and economic cooperation.
(2) In response, next Prime Minister Garibashvili said he is glad that mutual visits between two countries are gaining momentum, including a visit to Japan in May by Dr. Maia Panjikidze, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia. He also expressed gratitude for Japan’s consistent support of Georgia, beginning with economic cooperation. Next Prime Minister Garibashvili said investment in Georgia by Japanese companies is welcome, and so he intends to take responsibility for providing a good business environment for Japanese companies.