GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – The Caribbean Group (CARICOM) has welcomed the chance to have interaction with the brand new authorities of Japan early in its tenure.
This sentiment was relayed by the Chair of the Council for International and Group Relations (COFCOR) and the International Minister of Dominica, Dr. Vince Henderson, throughout a current go to to Tokyo.
DHenderson was talking at a welcome reception on the Iikura Visitor Home on the time, forward of the Eighth Japan-CARICOM Ministerial Convention final week.
Hosted by the brand new Minister for International Affairs of Japan, Takeshi Iwaya, the reception was attended by international ministers and different high-level officers from 14 CARICOM international locations and distinguished company from Japan and the CARICOM international locations.
Henderson highlighted key milestones in CARICOM-Japan relations, together with a 2014 Heads of Authorities Summit, seven Ministerial Conferences, and 19 technical cooperation engagements.
The COFCOR Chair said that these efforts have fostered developments in numerous sectors, similar to SMEs, commerce gala’s, agriculture, fisheries, IT, environmental conservation, catastrophe danger discount, local weather change, power, tradition, and tourism.
He additionally pressured the significance of supporting adaptive engagement frameworks, significantly the Japan-CARICOM Friendship and Cooperation Fund, as an important mechanism for addressing regional challenges.
In the meantime, regardless of their geographical distance, Iwaya highlighted the robust partnership between Japan and CARICOM international locations.
He expressed optimism for productive discussions on the Eighth Japan-CARICOM Ministerial-Stage Convention and reaffirmed Japan’s dedication to ongoing cooperation with CARICOM within the worldwide area.
Challenges dealing with CARICOM international locations shall be addressed by Japan’s three-pillar coverage, particularly:
– Cooperate in the direction of sustainable growth, together with overcoming vulnerabilities explicit to small island growing states (SIDS).
– deepening and increasing bonds based on exchanges and friendship, and.
– cooperation in addressing challenges confronting the worldwide group.
The Minister underscored the significance of people-to-people connections in fostering friendship and cooperation, noting that Japan hopes to develop these exchanges over the subsequent decade.
Forward of the CARICOM-Japan Ministerial Convention, international ministers paid a courtesy name to Shigeru Ishiba, the brand new Prime Minister of Japan. The Prime Minister affirmed the Japan-CARICOM partnership and the significance of their cooperation within the worldwide area.
The Eighth CARICOM-Japan Ministerial Assembly culminated within the CARICOM-Japan Friendship 12 months 2024.
This yr marks three many years of friendship between the Group and Japan and 60 years of diplomatic relations between CARICOM and Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago, respectively.
