The second day of the official visit of President Basescu to Japan
Date: 12-03-2010
Romania's President Traian Basescu and his wife Maria on Thursday extended a reception party at the Embassy of Romania in Tokio, attended by Japanese Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko, local officials and nearly 20 Romanians living in Japan.In a short speech, Basescu stated that the Romanian-Japanese relationship has no contentious issue and voiced trust in the continuation of bilateral cooperation and the conviction that Romania is a market of great interest where Japanese companies can display their need for development and massive penetration on the European market without any restrictions of customs constraints attached.
'All the projects sponsored by the Japanese Government have been success stories in Romania. The upgrading of the Fetesti-Constanta railroad portion, the upgrading of heat plants, National Road 6, the western sector and the big container terminal in the Black Sea port of Constanta are all cases in point. In the years of Romania's transition, the investments of big Japanese companies in Romania had their importance,' said Basescu.
He said he is convinced his ongoing visit will boost commercial exchanges and investments between Romania and Japan. He also thanked the Romanians living in Japan, calling them the real ambassadors of Romania, people who are an honour to Romania by their behaviour and actions. He voiced conviction that the Japanese Government lifting the visa requirements for Romanian nationals travelling to Japan will boost business and cultural exchanges between the two countries.
Prince Akishino pointed out that 2009 saw the 50th anniversary of the resuming of diplomatic ties between Japan and Romania, mentioning that the anniversary was celebrated through cultural events and other anniversary events, saying they all meant progress in the bilateral relation between Japan and Romania. He added that on his visit to Romania in May 2009 he was deeply moved by the rich history and culture of the country as well as the warmness of Romanians, saying that he has wonderful recollections of his visit to the Cotroceni Presidential Palace in Bucharest, the Sinaia Monastery and some rural household at Comarnic.
Prince Akishino told President Basescu that he hopes his ongoing visit will be as fruitful as possible, and that he hopes the visit will be an added reason for the excellent relations between Romania and Japan to further.
On Thursday morning, President Basescu met officials of the Keidanren Employers' Association, including Keidanren Deputy Chairmen for Europe Yoshimitsu Kobayashi and Shinichi Yokohama. Also attending were Romanian Finance Minister Sebastian Vladescu, Romania's ambassador in Tokyo Aurelian Neagu and Japanese ambassador in Bucharest Natsuo Amemiya.
President Basescu said his visit to Japan is aimed at consolidating economic ties, and that the political relations between the two countries are excellent. He added that the Japanese Governemnt helped Romania a great deal when Romania was advancing toward a market economy, Agerpres correspondent reports.
