Посол - Выступления

Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

It is my great pleasure to welcome all of you today to celebrate together the 79-th birthday of His Majesty the Emperor of Japan. Early this year, we were worried about health of His Majesty the Emperor. However, soon after recovery of health, in March His Majesty attended the memorial ceremony of the first anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake. He also has actively continued to pay visits both inside Japan and abroad. I am very pleased indeed that His Majesty can soon celebrate his birthday in healthy condition.

Let me briefly survey the recent development of Japanese-Russian relations. This year, the bilateral relations have been actively promoted in a wide range of fields, such as political relations, including the issue of conclusion of Peace Treaty, in the areas of security, economy, cultural exchanges and also cooperation in the international arena such as countermeasures against drug in Afghanistan. As for political dialogue on Summit-level, Prime Minister Noda and President Putin met during the G20 Summit in Los Cabos, and at the APEC summit in Vladivostok. At the bilateral meeting in Vladivostok, the two leaders reaffirmed the importance of the promotion of the Japanese-Russian cooperation in all areas in the changing strategic environment of the Asia-Pacific region.

Furthermore, in addition to the mutual visits of Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Secretary of the Security Council, Mr. Patrushev and the First Deputy Prime Minister Mr. Shuvalov also visited Japan. Besides inter-governmental visits, parliamentarian exchanges have been actively carried out. For example the Chairperson of the Federation Council, Ms Matviyenko and the Chairperson of State Duma, Mr. Naryshkin visited Japan. And we had also mutual visits of deputies of parliaments of both countries. I would also like to mention the visit of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, Russian Orthodox Church. This visit has made a great contribution to deepening mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples.

As is well known, the general election of the House of Representatives will be held on the 16-th of December in Japan. Regardless of the result of the election, I believe that Japan's policy towards Russia will remain basically unchanged. As the Ambassador of Japan, in cooperation with the Russian government and Russian friends in all areas, I would like to make every effort to further enhance the current positive momentum and to develop the bilateral relations based on mutual trust and also to strengthen the partnership in the Asia-Pacific region.

Now, let me propose a toast for the birthday of His Majesty the Emperor and good health and happiness of all of you.