Press Releases

With the occasion of the COFCOL, Parliamentary Vice-Minister ERI held an informal exchange with the Chair, H.E. Mr. Melvin W.J. Bouva, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Business and International Cooperation of Suriname. She also held bilateral meetings with The Honourable Everly Paul Chet Greene, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Agriculture, Trade & Barbuda Affairs of Antigua and Barbuda; The Honourable Christopher Peter Sinckler, Senior Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Barbados; The Honourable Joseph Andall, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Trade & Export Development of Grenada; Senator the Honourable Kamina Johnson Smith, JP, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Jamaica; The Right Honourable Dr Denzil Douglas, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade, Industry & Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Economic Development and Investments of the Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis; The Honourable Alva Romanus Baptiste, Minister for External Affairs, International Trade, Civil Aviation and Diaspora Affairs of Saint Lucia; The Honourable Dwight Fitzgerald Bramble, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade, Foreign Investment & Diaspora Affairs of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
During these meetings, they agreed on strengthening bilateral relations through people-to-people exchanges including at the high level, and on promoting cooperation on important issues facing the international community, such as Security Council reform and disarmament and non-proliferation. Vice-Minister ERI explained the evolved concept of a "Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP)" and the core principles underpinning it, including economic security, freedom, democracy, and the rule of law, which is supported by many countries.
Furthermore, they exchanged views on regional situations and other issues, including their policies toward North Korea such as on the nuclear and missile issues as well as the abductions issue, and many countries expressed their support for Japan's position.
In her bilateral meeting with Dr. Carla Natalie Barnett, Secretary-General of CARICOM, Secretary-General Barnett expressed her appreciation for Japan's support for CARICOM member states, including in the areas of disaster risk reduction and the environment. They agreed that the importance of Japan-CARICOM relations, which share common values and principles, is growing in this era of significant change, and that both sides will further strengthen their cooperation going forward.
Vice-Minister Eri also held an informal exchange with H.E. Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Singapore, who was also attending as an extra-regional country. In addition, she held a wide-ranging exchange of views with H.E. Mr. Zulkarnain Abdul Rahim, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Social and Family Development of Singapore, on bilateral relations, the importance of FOIP, and regional and international affairs.

On May 20, Vice-Minister ERI attended a dinner with H.E. Patrick Brunings, Minister of Oil, Gas and Environment, and Mr. Anand Jagesar, Managing Director of Staatsolie (the national oil company). In a cordial atmosphere, they held wide-ranging exchanges of views on the prospects for oil and gas development in Suriname and expectations for increased investment by Japanese companies in Suriname. Vice-Minister ERI also expressed Japan's desire to further strengthen cooperation with Suriname in the field of energy security, including crude oil supply, which is concurred by Minister Brunings.

On May 21, Vice-Minister ERI visited the Academic Hospital Paramaribo, which received assistance through Japan’s Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects. She also visited the site to inspect drainage pumps that had been provided under Japan's Grant Aid (Economic and Social Development Programme). Furthermore, she also held discussions with Mr. Jayant Anilkumar Padarath, Honorary Consul-General for Japan in Paramaribo, and exchanged views on strengthening Japan-Suriname relations across a wide range of fields.