Japan’s Ambassador in Chisinau Masanobu Yoshii was awarded the Order of Honor of the Republic of Moldova by President Igor Dodon, who said that owing to the ambassador’s contribution, Japan became the third largest assistance partner after the EU and the U.S., IPN reports, quoting a Facebook posting.

President Dodon said that owing to the activity of Masanobu Yoshii, there were implemented over 20 important projects in such areas as agriculture, education, healthcare and the business environment. Assistance was provided in outfitting the National Library, modernizing the infrastructure of firefighting units, renovating hospitals in villages, creating jobs.

“I welcomed the development of the Moldovan-Japanese relations during the last few years in all the areas of common interest and thanked the diplomat for the attitude and responsibility shown during his tenure,” wrote President Dodon .

He noted that he pleads for attracting Japanese investments to Moldova’s economy and expressed his confidence that the positive dynamics of the cooperation relations will continue with the appointment of a new ambassador.

Masanobu Yoshii is the first ambassador who represents Japan in the Republic of Moldova. He took up his duties in August 2016. He is fluent in Romanian. Earlier, Japan had a common ambassador for Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova based in Kiev.