High-ranking officials, politicians, diplomats and people of culture took part in the reception held in the evening of September 7 to officially open the Embassy of Japan in Chisinau. The embassy is based on Stefan cel Mare si Sfant Blvd in Chisinau and Masanobu Yoshi is the first Ambassador of Japan to Moldova. The event started with the playing of the national anthems of Moldova and Japan by flute and ten-chorded guitar and ended with a Japanese ritual of opening the barrel of sake with wooden hammers, which is over 300 years old and is held only at very important events, IPN reports.
The host of the event, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan in Chisinau Masanobu Yoshii in the opening of the ceremony said the event marks a new stage in the development of the bilateral relations between Japan and Moldova. “24 years ago, on March 26, 1992, Moldova and Japan established diplomatic relations and this year, when the Republic of Moldova celebrates the nice anniversary of 25 years of the declaration of independence, our countries give a powerful impetus to the economic, political and cultural cooperation by opening embassies in Chisinau and Tokyo,” stated the diplomat.
The official noted that during 14 years he had held diplomatic office in Bucharest and when Moldova declared its independence, he followed attentively and with open interest the democratization process in the country. He assured that Japan was and will remain a reliable partner of Moldova on its path to democracy, prosperity and welfare of all the people. ”That’s why I come to Chisinau with a message of support and encouragement for the common values and principles such as freedom, supremacy of the law and market economy,” said Masanobu Yoshii.
Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan Motome Takisawa stated that the bilateral relations during the last few years developed considerably so that embassies were opened both in Moldova and in Japan and this will contribute more to their intensification. ”During my visit to the Republic of Moldova, I exchanged opinions on different issues with his excellences, Mister President and Mister Prime Minister. From now on, we will make effort to better understand the Republic of Moldova so as to contribute to developing the bilateral relations,” he said.
In the event, President Nicolae Timofti expressed his conviction that with the opening of the Embassy of Japan in Chisinau, Moldova and Japan establish a consistent and efficient dialogue. “Japan is one of the priorities of our foreign policy on the Asian continent and I ascertain with special satisfaction that both of the states already established solid friendship relations. By concerted effort, we managed to extend and diversify the cooperation relations. I want to note the 2KR project, which is an example of efficiency and unity. Through the funds provided with generosity by the people of Japan, the agriculture of my state was helped to recover and develop. We welcome the support for the projects implemented in health, education, culture and science, which are key areas of the Moldovan nation. In this connection, I reiterate Moldova’s readiness to continue to promote and attract investments and to stimulate the economic and commercial exchanges,” said the Head of State, wishing the representatives of embassies working in Moldova success and assuring them of his personal support and of the Moldovan Government’s assistance in promoting an open and cooperative dialogue.
Deputy Speaker of Parliament Liliana Palihovici, who heads the Friendship Group with Japan, said Japan is among the first states that recognized Moldova’s independence, while the people of Moldova have a profound feeling of esteem for the Japanese people owing to the results achieved by them in economy, science, culture and other areas owing to perseverance, assiduity and technological progress. “The country of sunrise, being one of the most developed countries in the world, became one of the most important partners of the Republic of Moldova. We share common values, such as the rule of law, respect for the parents and family, active civic life, wish to tend to development and harmonious life. We have special respect for the culture, traditions and history of the people of Japan,” she stated.
After Japan and Moldova established diplomatic relations in 1992, the Government of Japan supported Moldova’s efforts to ensure democratization and transition to a market economy and later the path to European integration, offering the Moldovan side a total of US$150 million in financial support.
