Press Releases
State Foreign Minister MIYAJI Hosts a Luncheon Meeting for CARICOM Foreign Ministers and Other High-level Officials
On December 13, commencing at 1:00 p.m. for approximately 90 minutes., Mr. MIYAJI Takuma, State Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, hosted a luncheon meeting and exchanged views with foreign ministers and other high-level officials from 14 member states of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), who were visiting Japan to attend the Eighth Japan-CARICOM Ministerial-Level Conference scheduled on December 14th. Also in attendance were experts such as Prof. Tshilidzi Marwala, Rector of the United Nations University. The overview of the meeting is as follows.
- At the outset, State Minister Miyaji welcomed the CARICOM foreign ministers and other high-level officials’ visit to Japan and stated that he hopes to hold dialogue with experts that will serve as base for the discussions about guidelines for Japan-CARICOM cooperation over the next 10 years at the Eighth Japan-CARICOM Ministerial-Level Conference scheduled on December 14th.
- Attending experts gave speeches on the themes of advanced technology, sustainable development, Japanese culture and people-to-people exchanges between Japan and CARICOM. They exchanged views on each topic with the representatives of CARICOM member states.
- Finally, State Minister Miyaji expressed his appreciation for the vibrant exchange of views and summarized the discussions by expressing his hope that today’s luncheon meeting would contribute to the discussions at the Japan-CARICOM Ministerial-Level Conference and further assist Japan-CARICOM cooperation.
- Antigua and Barbuda: H.E. Daven C. Joseph, Ambassador and Development Commissioner, Office of the Prime Minister
- Commonwealth of The Bahamas: Hon. Frederick Mitchell, Minister of Foreign Affairs
- Barbados: Hon. Kerrie Symmonds, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade and Senior Minister coordinating Productive Sector
- Belize: Hon. Francis Fonseca, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade, Education, Culture, Science and Technology
- Dominica: Hon. Dr. Vince Henderson, Minister for Foreign Affairs, International Business, Trade and Energy
- Grenada: Hon. Joseph Andall, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Trade and Export Development of Grenada
- Co-operative Republic of Guyana: Hon. Hugh Hilton Todd, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
- Republic of Haiti: H.E. Jean-Victor Harvel Jean-Baptiste, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Worship
- Jamaica: Senator the Hon. Kamina Johnson Smith, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade
- Saint Christopher and Nevis: H.E.Ms. Kaye Bass, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Saint Lucia: Hon. Alva Romanus Baptiste, Minister for External Affairs, International Trade, Civil Aviation and Diaspora Affairs
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines: Hon. Frederick Stephenson, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade, Cooperatives and Consumer Affairs
- Republic of Suriname: H.E. Mr. Albert Ramdin, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Business and International Cooperation
- Republic of Trinidad and Tobago: Senator the Hon. Dr. Amery Browne, Minister of Foreign and CARICOM
- Secretariat of CARICOM: Ms. Elizabeth Solomon, Assistant Secretary General, Foreign and Community Relations
The year 2024 marks the 30th anniversary of the start of the Japan-CARICOM (Caribbean Community) Consultations, as well as the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Jamaica, and between Japan and the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. To commemorate these events, this year has been designated as the “Japan-CARICOM Friendship Year 2024” and commemorative projects will be implemented in Japan and CARICOM member states to broaden exchanges between Japan and CARICOM through the year.