4 The Times Saturday, July 5, 2014 national day

Strengthening friendly relations Growing ties in energy sector, Working for mutual benefit expanding bonds in other areas Toshihiro Nikai Ministry of Economy, trade Chairman of the Japan- and Industry of Japan and the Seiko Ishikawa democracy has grown the most Takeo Hiranuma Venezuela Friendship Council People’s Ministry for Energy Ambassador of venezuela since 1995, standing first in the Chairman of the Japan-Venezuelan Parliamentary Friendship and Petroleum of the Bolivar- region, with 93 percent polled League As Chairman of the Japan- ian Republic of Venezuela, to On the happy occasion of the answering “agree” or “very Venezuela Friendship Coun- which I had the opportunity to 203rd Anniversary of the Inde- much agree” with the state- Venezuela today marks the 203rd Anniversary of the cil, I would like subscribe in March 2009, was pendence of the Bolivarian Re- ment, “Democracy might have Proclamation of its Independence and I would like to ex- to extend my the first agreement on energy public of problems but it is the best gov- press my deepest congratulations to the warmest con- development between Japan Venezuela, I ernment system.” Also, Vene- government and people of the Bolivarian gratulations to and a South American coun- am honored to zuela was ranked second when Republic of Venezuela on this remarkable the govern- try. It opened a channel of convey the re- people were asked if they be- date as an independent and sovereign ment and peo- communication to diversify newed com- lieved income distribution is country. ple of the bilateral relations with Vene- mitment of our “just or very just.” These are The bilateral ties between Japan and Ven- Bolivarian re- zuela in areas such as gas, oil, government to proof of the general satisfac- ezuela have been promoted and strength- public of Ven- petrochemicals, finance, elec- the continued tion of Venezuelans toward de- ened, especially in the energy field, and ezuela on the occasion of the tricity, infrastructure, the en- friendship be- mocracy as a concrete result have expanded to other important sectors 203rd anniversary of their vironment and renewable tween Venezuela and Japan provided by the Bolivarian such as technology, infrastructure, education, the environ- country’s independence. energy. and to extend my best wishes government since 1999. ment and sports since we established diplomatic relations Venezuela is a country with Both countries are deepen- of happiness, health and pros- We were overjoyed in 2013 76 years ago. abundant natural resources ing their bilateral cooperation, perity to Their Imperial Majes- when Venezuela and Japan cel- On this significant day of celebratingV enezuelan Inde- and the energy sector, as the and on the occasion of my last ties Emperor akihito and ebrated the 75th anniversary of pendence, I wish to convey on behalf of my country and mainstay of its economy, offers visit to Venezuela in 2011, as Empress Michiko, the Japanese bilateral relations with the myself, our joy in sharing common grounds on many bi- multiple opportunities to pro- a member of the Diet, I was government and its people. I Japan tour of the youth Or- lateral and multilateral issues based on the friendship and mote mutually beneficial co- part of a multidisciplinary del- also would like to express, on chestra of last October. mutual respect among the two governments and their operation with Japan. Both egation that achieved positive behalf of our government and A group of 200 Venezuelan people. The development of our nations has been driven countries maintain excellent results by sharing initiatives myself, felicitations to the Ven- youngsters executed their best by similar values and a belief in individual liberties, fun- friendly ties and in recent years with Venezuelan government ezuelan community residing in performances for Her Impe- damental civil rights such as freedom of speech and ex- have established complemen- officials in construction, in- Japan. On this auspicious day, rial Majesty Empress Michiko, pression and a right to self-determination. tary relationships, especially in dustry, housing, tourism and I am grateful to The Japan who graced us with her atten- As chairman of the Japan-Venezuela Parliamentary the promotion of economic re- sports. Times for this opportunity to dance during the Gala Concert Friendship League, I vow to deepen and continue to lations in the energy field, I am confident that Japan address its distinguished read- at the Tokyo Metropolitan The- strengthen the close and friendly relations between through ministerial visits and and Venezuela will continue to ers. ater. Venezuela and Japan, through the promotion of bilater- high-level delegation exchang- work together in exploring new In 2014 Venezuelans cele- These members of the Youth al cooperation and mutual trust for the benefit of our es in both countries. development projects based brate the bicentennial of the Orchestra of Caracas, along countries. The Memorandum on En- on friendship and to the two Battle of la Victoria, where with 500,000 Venezuelan chil- ergy Cooperation between the economies’ mutual benefit. thousands of youngsters and dren and youth, form the core students armed with great of El Sistema, the best-known courage, under the command cultural and social program in Culture week sees ‘new wave’ music in Japan of Dr. Jose Felix Ribas, fought the world, which has replicat- for independence. To mark this Angel Falls in Canaima National Park, a UNESCO World ed in more than 40 countries, The Venezuelan Cultural Week cians as well as groups such as course, a . The result is a historic event and in praise of Heritage site, is the world’s tallest waterfall at 979 meters. including Japan. in Japan has become some- Grammy Award winner “Los tropical jazz trio with a singer Venezuelan youth, the Bolivar- embassy of venezuela After two years of relentless thing of a happy tradition. Since Amigos Invisibles.” to add words to the melodies. ian government launched the work and effort by Friends of 2002, the Embassy of the Boli- Creator of the Onda Nueva The Aldemaro Romero Trio welfare program “Young Peo- President Hugo Chavez. erty has decreased steadily in El Sistema Japan in the city of varian Republic of Venezuela (“New Wave”) half a century is composed of Pedrito López ple of the Homeland Mission,” Furthermore, Maduro an- the last decade from 12.7 per- Soma, Fukushima, Prefecture, has presented a diverse array of ago, Maestro Romero’s rhythm (piano), Gustavo Carucí (bass for the development and social nounced in June a series of re- cent in 2003 to 5.5 percent transforming lives through the artists in Japan. This year we are has deep roots in Venezuela’s and guitar) and Miguel de Vi- inclusion of Venezuelan youth forms to the national system of today. In the same period, Soma Children’s Orchestra proud to present the Aldemaro national folk music and dance, cenzo (drums). These talented in areas such as science, sport, social programs and pledged overall poverty has decreased Project, we are delighted to an- Romero Trio featuring the tal- the “Joropo.” A Venezuelan Jo- musicians played alongside production and culture. to end extreme poverty by from 30.5 percent to 19.6 per- nounce that the Venezuela-in- ented singer Carmela Ramírez. ropo ensemble is traditionally Romero for many years. They President Nicolas Maduro, 2018, the end of his current cent. spired program has now Aldemaro romero, who made up of three musicians promise to give Japanese audi- after his election in April 2013, term in office. These programs have been expanded to Otsuchi, Iwate passed away in 2007, had for playing the harp, cuatro and ences a flavorful taste of our has vowed not only to continue Venezuela’s state-run na- praised by numerous U.N. or- Prefecture, to further serve the many years wished to come to maracas. a singer is usually new wave music accompanied the Bolivarian Revolution but tional system of welfare pro- ganizations for achieving sev- children of the disaster areas Japan to play his music, but added to make the group live- by the warm voice of Ramírez. also to expand its reach and to grams, coined by Chavez as eral Millennium Development affected by the Great East was never able to make this lier with lyrics about love, hu- Our cultural week will kick improve its efficiency. Last De- “missions,” has been hailed as Goals ahead of schedule. Japan Earthquake and tsuna- very dear dream come true. morous episodes and off on Nov. 3 in tokyo, then cember, Maduro passed a law, one of the key factors behind By these measures, it should mi. Romero is one of Venezuela’s picturesque situations. move on to Toyohashi, Aichi with majority support from the the significant reduction in not come as a surprise that, We stay committed to con- Top, Aldemaro Romero plays most internationally ac- Romero, being an accom- Prefecture; Osaka; and Kom- National Assembly, for the Sec- household poverty since the among 18 countries of the tinuing to strengthen and the piano. Above, The claimed composers. In Vene- plished pianist “modernized” agane, Nagano Prefecture; be- ond Social and Economic De- Bolivarian government took Latin American region polled deepen the friendly relations Aldemaro Romero Trio with zuela and the world, he has the group, substituting the fore wrapping up in Tokyo with velopment National Plan, thus office in 1999. The percentage by latinobarometro in 2013, with Japan, while expanding singer Carmela Ramírez (left) been a great source of inspira- three folk instruments with a gala concert on Nov. 13, at the cementing the legacy of late of households in extreme pov- Venezuela is where support for our economic bonds. embassy of venezuela tion to many individual musi- drums, a double bass and, of Blue Note Tokyo.

PAGE: 4 The Japan Times Saturday, July 5, 2014 5 Venezuela national day

Venezuela is home to many tabletop mountains. embassy of venezuela Growing cultural exchanges

Masateru Ito at the Café y Libros in Meguro, President, Japan-Venezuela TAokyo in pril 2009 and there Association has recently been an increase in the number of students. The On behalf of Japan-Venezuela association the Japan-Ven- for its part occasionally holds ezuela Associa- Venezuelan cooking classes, tion, I extend which have also proven very my sincere popular. c o ng rat u l a- In October last year, the El tions to the Sistema Youth Symphony Or- government chestra of Caracas, composed and people of of 180 musicians between the the Bolivarian Republic of Ven- ages of 14 and 24, visited Japan ezuela on the occasion of the to further the ongoing friendly 203rd anniversary of their in- ties between our two countries. dependence. The orchestra gave concerts in Japan and Venezuela main- Hiroshima, Tokyo and Chiba, tain a traditionally friendly re- while conducting workshops lationship and it is reassuring and symposiums to introduce that the cultural exchanges be- “El Sistema,” the world-class tween both countries have Venezuelan music education been increasing. In recent system. years, we have witnessed an It is indeed a pleasure to see increased role played by Estu- Japan and Venezuela deepen- diantina Komaba, a group of ing bilateral cooperation not students based on Tokyo Uni- only in the economic field, but versity’s Komaba Campus that also in the areas of cultural, plays Venezuelan music. In artistic and intellectual ex- March this year, five students changes and that there is bet- of Estudiantina Komaba visit- ter understanding between ed Venezuela and participated both countries and that in El Callao Carnival as well as through efforts on both sides, in the Florza Feast. It was a hot the two nations are closer to topic in Caracas that Japanese each other. students were playing tradi- Finally, I would like to reiter- tional Venezuelan instruments ate our warmest felicitations such as cuatro and bandola on this historic day and to as- and singing and interpreting sure all our Venezuelan friends Venezuelan folk songs. Their that the Japan-Venezuela As- activities were widely reported sociation will continue to con- on local TV and radio. tribute to the strengthening of A cuatro music class opened our bilateral relationship. An indispensable partner for long-term energy security Yorihiko Kojima Chairman, Japan-Venezuela Economic Committee, Keidanren

On behalf of Keidanren’s Japan-Venezuela Economic Committee, I would like to convey my heartfelt congratulations to the people of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela on the 203rd anniversary of their indepen- dence. Venezuela and Japan have been enhanc- ing economic relationships, particularly in the energy sector, as Venezuela has a wealth of natural resources such as crude oil, natural gas and iron ore. Japanese businesses participate in loans to PDVSA (Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A.) and oil extraction projects in Venezuela’s Orinoco belt, and crude oil imports to Japan are increasing in recent years. Venezuela is an in- dispensable partner for Japan from the viewpoint of ener- gy security. Venezuela’s oil reserves are the largest in the world and the 30 million people of Venezuela is a huge potential mar- ket. Japanese companies wishing to do business with Ven- ezuela hope the business environment will continue to improve. Finally, I sincerely wish the Bolivarian Republic of Vene- zuela and its people peace and prosperity on the anniversa- ry of their independence. The Japan-Venezuela Economic Committee will continue to do its best to enhance econom- ic ties between the two nations and contribute toward a mutually beneficial future.