天皇誕生日祝賀レセプションにおける上月大使挨拶 (in English)

Dear Deputy Prime Minister Ms. Golodets, Your Excellencies, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen!

I would like to express my deepest gratitude to you all for attending our National Day reception on the occasion of the 84th Birthday of His Majesty the Emperor of Japan. I am glad to celebrate this special event with you all. I would like to thank The Chamber Choir of the Moscow Conservatory for their beautiful voice.

To date, Prime Minister Abe and President Putin have met for summit meetings on 20 occasions. These meetings have strengthened personal relations of our leaders and have become the driving force of the development of our bilateral relations. I was deeply impressed by the way both leaders stood side by side in front of the national flags for the playing of the Japanese and Russian national anthems during the award ceremony of the International Judo Tournament named after Mr. Jigoro KANOU, the founder of Judo, which took place during Prime Minister ABE’s visit to Vladivostok in September.

Based on the agreement between the two leaders, preparations are under way for joint economic activities on the four islands of the Japanese Northern territories. We hope that these joint economic activities will become an important step for the conclusion of the peace treaty.

Concrete measures have already been taken to realize the eight-point cooperation plan, including healthcare and urban development, which are important for a better quality of life. I am sure that Russian people can feel the results of our cooperation.

Russia, being a big country, exchanges of relationship this year have actively taken place not only at the central governmental level but also at the regional level. I myself have met with 13 governors this year alone. In addition, 5 Russian governors have visited Japan since October this year.

Such interregional exchange is very important for strengthening the relationship between our two countries. I would like to draw your attention to the regional products here in the hall delivered from the prefectures of Yamaguchi, Hokkaido, and Yamagata, as well as from the city of Nagato.

Cultural exchange plays an important role for the development of the Japan-Russia relationship. Japan was chosen as the first country to run the renewal of “Russian Seasons”. Deputy Prime Minister Ms. Golodets visited Japan to participate in the opening event, where the Principal Dancer of the Bolshoi Theater Svetlana Zakharova played “Giselle”,. Prime Minister ABE and his wife also attended the event. “Russian Seasons” in Japan has been an excellent prelude to the mutual exchange year, which officially commences in May 2018. Within the framework of the “Year of Japan in Russia”, a variety of programs, including Kabuki theatre tours, an exhibition of Art of the Edo period with displays of valuable masterpieces, which have never been taken abroad before, will take place in Russia. I hope that all guests here will actively participate and render support to the “Year of Japan in Russia”.

I would like to conclude my speech with a quote from Lev Tolstoi’s words: “In order to become true friends, we must trust each other.” We will continue to do our best in the coming year, to deepen our trust not only at the higher level, but also among the people of Japan and Russia.

Thank you for your attention.