Minister of Foreign Affairs Ditmir Bushati received today the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of Japan Nobuo Kishi. This meeting comes at a very important moment in the relations between our two countries, which climax with the opening of the Embassy of Japan to Albania.

Minister Bushati extended high appreciation for the decision of the Japanese government to open a new Embassy in Tirana as it constitutes a very important event in the history of relations between the two countries. It will contribute to enhancement of bilateral economic cooperation, cultural exchanges and people-to-people contacts.

He thanked Minister Kishi particularly for the assistance that the Japanese government has provided to Albania over the last two decades through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and expressed the interest of the Albanian side to further intensify cooperation with JICA and other Japanese institutions, highlighting that Japanese investors will find contemporary legislation and favorable investment climate in Albania.

Minister of State Kishi voiced that Japan is very interested in stability in the Western Balkans and values Albania’s role in this context as the region’s factor of stability. “Japan appreciates Albania’s efforts to promote democracy and the rule of law” – Minister Kishi stated and added that Japanese government welcomes the recent parliamentary elections peacefully conducted in Albania. He stressed that Japan will continue to support Albania’s efforts for reforms and EU membership.

Referring to the opening of the Japanese Embassy in Albania, Minister Kishi expressed his confidence that it will further deepen relations between the two countries and a mutual acquaintance between our two cultures and peoples.

In addition, both ministers assessed positively the collaboration within the international organizations, including the good experience of mutual support of candidacies and the formulation of positions on current global issues and showed readiness to increase this cooperation in the future. Furthermore, Ministers Bushati and Kishi exchanged views on the developments in the respective regions.

Following, both Ministers attended the Japan Government's donation ceremony of 129 Japanese last-generation vehicles, a donation made possible through a grant of 500 million Yen or $ 4.6 million and the ceremony of the opening of Japan Embassy in Albania, attended also by the Minister of Economic Development, Entrepreneurship, Trade and Tourism Milva Ekonomi.