Japanese Foreign Minister attends Republic Day event in Tokyo in an unprecedented gesture
ET Bureau|
Jan 27, 2018, 08.18 PM IST
NEW DELHI: Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono in an unprecedented gesture attended the 69th Republic Day luncheon Reception hosted in Tokyo on Jan 26.
The star-studded luncheon hosted by Ambassador Sujan Chinoy comprised over 700 guests at the reception included former Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori, Chairman of Japan-India Parliamentary Friendship League Hiroyuki Hosoda, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Iwao Horii, Chief Representative of Komeito Party Natuso Yamaguchi, several Vice Ministers, Members of the Diet, captains of the business community, senior officials from various Ministries of the Japanese government, heads of cultural and religious organizations and representatives of think-tanks, the scientific community, academia, media, the Indian community and the diplomatic corps.
'Kono greeted the guests with 'Namaskar" and stated in a lighter vein that after hearing Ambassador Chinoy deliver his remarks in fluent Japanese, he felt he should also speak in Hindi, but would have to apologize for not being able to do so.
Further Kono emphasized that Japan and India are strategic partners that share values such as democracy, human rights and the rule of law. He warmly recalled the close relationship between the two countries as personally experienced by him when he visited India last year at the gracious invitation of Indian government (before he became the Foreign Minister of Japan).
He particularly highlighted that he was struck by the remarkable relationship of friendship and respect that existed between India and Japan. He cited India as one of the most important partners for promoting Japan's Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy. He added that 2017 had witnessed many positive developments in the bilateral relationship.
The Minister pointed out that there were about 1400 Japanese companies with over 4800 Japanese establishments in India, with the number rising every year. He referred to2017 as a great year for bilateral relations, particularly as the Japan India Year of Friendly Exchanges in which about 200 cultural events were held in India and Japan. Senior LDP MP Hiroyuki Hosoda also addressed the gathering in his capacity as the Chairman of the India-Japan Parliamentary Friendship League.
Well-known Hindi scholar Tomio Mizokami, Professor Emeritus of the Osaka University of Foreign Studies, who was conferred the Padma Shri for Literature and Education on Republic Day, also attended the Republic Day celebrations.
The star-studded luncheon hosted by Ambassador Sujan Chinoy comprised over 700 guests at the reception included former Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori, Chairman of Japan-India Parliamentary Friendship League Hiroyuki Hosoda, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Iwao Horii, Chief Representative of Komeito Party Natuso Yamaguchi, several Vice Ministers, Members of the Diet, captains of the business community, senior officials from various Ministries of the Japanese government, heads of cultural and religious organizations and representatives of think-tanks, the scientific community, academia, media, the Indian community and the diplomatic corps.
'Kono greeted the guests with 'Namaskar" and stated in a lighter vein that after hearing Ambassador Chinoy deliver his remarks in fluent Japanese, he felt he should also speak in Hindi, but would have to apologize for not being able to do so.
Further Kono emphasized that Japan and India are strategic partners that share values such as democracy, human rights and the rule of law. He warmly recalled the close relationship between the two countries as personally experienced by him when he visited India last year at the gracious invitation of Indian government (before he became the Foreign Minister of Japan).
He particularly highlighted that he was struck by the remarkable relationship of friendship and respect that existed between India and Japan. He cited India as one of the most important partners for promoting Japan's Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy. He added that 2017 had witnessed many positive developments in the bilateral relationship.
The Minister pointed out that there were about 1400 Japanese companies with over 4800 Japanese establishments in India, with the number rising every year. He referred to2017 as a great year for bilateral relations, particularly as the Japan India Year of Friendly Exchanges in which about 200 cultural events were held in India and Japan. Senior LDP MP Hiroyuki Hosoda also addressed the gathering in his capacity as the Chairman of the India-Japan Parliamentary Friendship League.
Well-known Hindi scholar Tomio Mizokami, Professor Emeritus of the Osaka University of Foreign Studies, who was conferred the Padma Shri for Literature and Education on Republic Day, also attended the Republic Day celebrations.
