The Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, Iwao Horii, paid a courtesy call on President Abdulla Yameen on Sunday, during which he discussed expanding the island nation’s tourism market in Japan, and further increasing Japanese trade and investments in the Maldives.
According to the President’s Office, the president and vice-minister discussed various topics during the meeting, which was also attended by foreign minister Dr Mohamed Asim and the Japanese ambassador Kazumi Endo. Horii and Yameen had discussed bilateral and multilateral efforts to strengthen counter-terrorism, development of the fisheries industry, environmental protection and climate change.
The discussion further focused on housing and infrastructure development in waste management. President Yameen had also expressed hopes to strengthen bilateral relations on various fronts between the two nations.
The president thanked the government of Japan for its pivotal support for the ongoing socio-economic development of the Maldives. Declaring the high priority the Maldives gives to maintaining its friendly relations with Japan, Yameen conveyed his congratulations to the Japanese government and people on the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two allies which was marked this year.
Horii conveyed the greetings and good wishes of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to the president, and stated that he was honoured to visit the Maldives. He assured that Japan will continue to work closely with the island nation in the future as well.
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