Remarks by Ambassador Ito on the occasion of the 61st birthday of His Majesty the Emperor
2021/2/23
Remarks by Ambassador Ito
on the occasion of the 61st birthday of His Majesty the Emperor
23rd February, 2021
on the occasion of the 61st birthday of His Majesty the Emperor
23rd February, 2021
The Embassy of Japan celebrates, as Japan’s national day, His Majesty the Emperor’s birthday which falls on February 23rd. However, this year, it is regrettable that we had to cancel His Majesty the Emperor’s birthday reception due to the outbreak of the new coronavirus. I sincerely hope that the coronavirus epidemic will be over in the coming year and that we will be able to welcome all our guests and friends to the reception next time.
His Majesty Emperor Naruhito turned 61 today, and it has been nearly two years since his enthronement. Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress are devoting themselves in the affairs of state every day.
While the entire world seems to be twisted around by the COVID-19, it is reassuring that Bahrain, under the leadership of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, has always taken preemptive measures against the coronavirus. In particular, the fact that Bahrain treats its own citizens and foreign residents including Japanese residents equally and without distinction in various measures is a concrete proof that Bahrain is a nation that values coexistence, tolerance, and openness. I also admire Bahrain for its one of the most advanced efforts in the world in terms of vaccination.
Japan and Bahrain will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relations next year in 2022. In 2019, His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, visited Japan to attend His Majesty the Emperor’s enthronement ceremony. And also in the same year, we welcomed His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Ali bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Southern Governor, Her Excellency Ms. Fawzia bint Abdullah Zainal, Speaker of the Council of Representatives, to Japan. For our part, Minister of Defense, His Excellency Mr. KONO Taro and State Minister for Foreign Affairs, His Excellency Mr. SUZUKI Keisuke visited Bahrain to participate in the Manama Dialogue. These visits created momentum towards further high-level exchange of visits. Regrettably, however, the COVID-19 imposed restrictions on our exchange last year, but we are more than prepared to resume high-level exchange between the two countries, as the coronavirus pandemic dies down eventually.
Even during last year, we held the 5th Japan-Bahrain Policy Consultation and the 4th Security Dialogue in October, and were able to reaffirm our continuous close coordination between Japan and Bahrain in order to defuse the tensions in the Middle East, stabilize the situation, and secure the freedom of navigation in the region. And talking about the stabilization of the region, it is worth mentioning that Japan assumed the command of CTF151 to combat piracy for the fourth time in February. Japan advocates the Free and Open Indo-Pacific, which values the Indo-Pacific region extending from the Asia-Pacific to the Indian Ocean, leading to the Middle East and Africa, as free and open international public commons. And we have every intention to accelerate cooperation with Bahrain, which is an island nation just like Japan and also is situated at a geopolitically important position, to achieve economic development and peace in the region.
In the area of personnel exchange, which is also affected by the pandemic, we hope that two Bahraini students sponsored by the Japanese government scholarship program will be able to enroll in the respective Japanese universities and begin their studies in Japan at an early date. As for the cultural events, we participated in two events organized by Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities last year. We held the Japanese Traditional Koto Concert performed by Ms. KIKUCHI Naoko for Spring of Culture, and also presented an online workshop “Paper Doll Animals” at Bahrain Summer Festival. The coronavirus pandemic might keep standing in our way for the time being, but we are determined to promote cultural exchanges towards 2022, which is the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Finally, I really hope for an early containment of the new coronavirus worldwide. And I would like to express my sincere wish for the good health of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and all Royal Family members, as well as further development and prosperity of the Kingdom of Bahrain. I would like to conclude my remarks by promising that the Embassy of Japan will continue its utmost endeavors to further expand and consolidate the friendly and cooperative relations between Japan and Bahrain.
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