During the official visit to Japan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Edmond Haxhinasto had a meeting with Deputy Chairman of the House of Representatives of the Parliament of Japan, Mr. Seishiro Otto and Chairman of Parliamentary Group of Japan-Albania Friendship, Mr. Hiroshi Hase.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Haxhinasto praised the excellent relations that exist between the two countries and peoples and thanked Japan for assistance in important areas to the people and the economy as infrastructure, health, energy, mineral resources, and others.

In the framework of the bilateral cooperation, he underlined, - remains of special importance to the outcome of the agreements in the process, the visa liberalization for Albanian citizens, the strengthening of economic cooperation especially in tourism. The relations between the two countries, further said Mr. Haxhinasto, should have a qualitative development in the future and therefore, after completion of the existing projects to create more space for investments in Albania and the region. This goal, he said would serve to strengthen the cooperation in tourism, as well as the organization of an Albania-Japan business forum.

In addition, Mr. Haxhinasto praised the role and contribution of the Parliamentary Friendship Group for strengthening the relations between the two countries and thanked for recognizing Kosovo's independence. Further, he praised the role of Japan in the region and beyond.

Our two countries, said Mr. Haxhinasto, have enough common objectives in the context of the international relations and to this purpose serve the mutual support of candidacies for representation in international organizations.

The Deputy Chairman of Japanese House of Representatives appreciated the relations between the two countries and particularly Albania's role for peace and stability in the region. Sharing the same opinion regarding visa liberalization for Albanian citizens, Mr. Eto said that "you have our support for this”, and expressed its confidence that “through the bilateral negotiations such a thing will be done…I am convinced that the opening of the Japanese Embassy in Tirana will significantly strengthen the economic cooperation between the two countries”.