Sri Lanka and Japan has reaffirmed their commitment to further
strengthen bilateral cooperation in vital sectors of economic development and
identify key areas of such cooperation. Information and communication
technology (ICT), harbor infrastructure including Eastern Container Terminal
(ECT), expressways, agriculture, digitalization of television transmission,
disaster prevention and security cooperation are some of the areas identified.
This was stated when the visiting Minister of Foreign
Affairs of Japan Motegi Toshimitsu called on President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at
the Presidential Secretariat this morning (13). He was accompanied by an
eight-member high level delegation.
Congratulating President Rajapaksa on his recent election
victory, the Minister Toshimitsu called Sri Lanka "a special friend of Japan".
Extending an invitation to the President to visit Japan he said "we will be
hosting an international conference titled Friends of Asia which will be held
in May next year. It would be an appropriate time for your visit to our
country". President Rajapaksa was in agreement.
The visiting Foreign Minister expressed Japans hope that
continuous progress in bilateral relations would be made under President
Rajapaksas leadership. "Japan wishes to set up a bilateral mechanism to oversee
successful implementation of mutually agreed development projects. It will help
to introduce high-tech Japanese companies to Sri Lanka", Minister Toshimitsu
said.
"Ours is a small economy. But we have a skilled, educated
and talented workforce. My intention is to build an employment-oriented,
technology driven economy. We seek Japans assistance to reach that goal",
President Rajapaksa stated. The President also said that he was open to foreign
investments from all countries, especially the countries from the region such
as China, Japan, India, South Korea, Australia and Singapore.
Dealing with regional cooperation, the Japanese Minister
expressed his countrys commitment to the concept of free and open Indo
Pacific region. He also said that defence, security and stability were the
priority areas of regional cooperation. In response President Rajapaksa said
"Indian Ocean must remain a zone of peace free of any conflict".
The President reiterating his stand in foreign relations
observed "Sri Lanka does not want to get involved in rivalries among world
powers. We seek friendship and reject domination by others".
The Japanese Minister said that his country would stand for
peace, stability and reconciliation among communities in Sri Lanka. "The
political process of reconciliation must move forward together with overall
economic development, infrastructure upgrading and raising the living standards
of people especially in North and East", President said in his remark.
Sugiyama Akira, Ambassador of Japan in Sri Lanka, Matano
Motosoada, Executive Assistant to the Japanese Minister and Dr. P. B.
Jayasundera, Secretary to the President were also present.
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