Bulgaria National Day Special Mutual ties continue to prosper

borislav kostov Rumen Radev visited in October on and Events” was published in Bulgaria on the Ambassador of Bulgaria the auspicious occasion of the enthrone- occasion of the Triple Anniversary. A com- ment of His Majesty Emperor Naruhito. memorative postcard for the Triple Anni- On the occasion of President Radev’s fruitful meeting with versary was issued in Bulgaria. Japanese and the National Day of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was an impor- Bulgarian dignitaries, politicians, artists and the Republic of Bul- tant landmark in our relationship. Visits of musicians were decorated with high awards garia — March 3 — I the foreign ministers of Bulgaria and Japan, by both governments for their contribution have the privilege to Ekaterina Zaharieva and Taro Kono (now to the development of bilateral relations. extend to the readers minister of defense), were exchanged in Several Bulgarian cultural groups and of March and August respectively, highlight- musicians held performances in a number warm greetings and ing the Triple Anniversary and strengthen- of Japanese cities during the year. There was best wishes for good ing cooperation on bilateral, regional and large-scale Japanese participation in the cul- health, prosperity international matters. In Sofia, Kono called tural program Plovdiv: European Capital of and happiness. on Prime Minister Boyko Borissov. In Tokyo, Culture 2019. Municipalities and universities On March 3, 1878, Bulgaria reappeared on Zaharieva also participated in the World from the two countries continued with their Left: Bulgarian President Rumen Radev meets Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Tokyo on Oct. 24. Right: The Bulgarian Orthodox Alexander Nevsky the political map of Europe and embarked Assembly for Women. Bulgarian women- mutually beneficial exchanges. Bulgarian Cathedral stands in Sofia. embassy of bulgaria on the road of independent development. parliamentarians participated in the Women language courses at universities in Tokyo, Today, the country is a proud member of the Political Leaders Summit in Tokyo in June. Kobe and Osaka reflect the growing interest community of democratic nations, a coun- Visits of Bulgarian delegations at the deputy among Japanese students in learning more try with a fast growing economy, member ministerial level in defense, economy and about Bulgaria. Activities of friendship asso- of the European Union and North Atlantic disaster management contributed to the ciations and societies contributed greatly to Treaty Organization, and a factor of stability expansion of the scope of our cooperation. the development of our bilateral ties and to in Southeastern Europe. Bulgaria and Japan started joint cooperation the strengthening of people-to-people con- Bulgaria enjoys a longstanding relation- with Western Balkan countries in the areas tacts. For a third consecutive year, Japanese ship of traditional friendship, cooperation of disaster management and small and mid- runners participated in the annual Sofia and partnership with Japan based on com- sized enterprises promotion. marathon in October. mon values and principles, including funda- A Japan-Bulgaria Economic Seminar held With all eyes set on the 2020 Tokyo Olym- mental freedoms, democracy, the rule of law in Tokyo in September, attended by Min- pic and Paralympic Games, Bulgarian sports and respect for human rights. It is a relation- ister for Foreign Affairs Toshimitsu Motegi teams continued holding training camps in ship that has withstood the test of time. and Minister for Reconstruction Kazunori several Japanese cities in preparation for the The past year — 2019 — the first year of Tanaka, as well as a bilateral economic Olympics, benefiting from the host town the new Reiwa Era, was very special for Bul- forum in Sofia in February 2020 attended by initiative of the Japanese government. I do garia-Japan relations. We celebrated three President Radev and Minister of Economy hope that the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Para- anniversaries of bilateral relations under a Emil Karanikolov, with Bulgarian and Japa- lympic Games will be successful for the Bul- joint logo, — 110 years since the first bilateral nese companies participating in both events, garian athletes. In our views, the strong ties contacts, 80 years since the establishment of highlighted the willingness of both countries established with the Japanese host towns — diplomatic relations and 60 years since the to expand economic and investment coop- Murayama (Yamagata Prefecture), Okayama, resumption of diplomatic relations. Numer- eration, taking advantage of the opportuni- Munakata (Fukuoka Prefecture), Ichikawa ous commemorative events — political, eco- ties provided by the EU–Japan economic (Chiba Prefecture), Sakuragawa (Ibaraki Pre- nomic, academic and cultural — held both partnership agreement. The number of Japa- fecture) and Hodogaya Ward of Yokohama in Japan and in Bulgaria saw engagement at nese companies doing business in Bulgaria (Kanagawa Prefecture) — will continue to the highest political level and contributed to has grown. develop beyond the Tokyo 2020 Olympics the strengthening of the bilateral relation- An academic symposium on Bulgaria- and will encompass wider areas such as cul- ship, and bringing our two countries even Japan relations was held in Tokyo in June, ture, education, trade and economy. They closer. Both Bulgaria and Japan have sought along with an exhibition of paintings by will constitute an important input and will to enhance and deepen bilateral relations Bulgarian artists. A conference on “Japan and expand the framework of Bulgaria-Japan in various fields, to further develop their the European Southeast — Over a Hundred relations. strategic partnership and to build an action- Years of Political, Economic, Cultural and oriented partnership. Academic Interactions” was held in Sofia This content was compiled in collaboration High-level bilateral dialogue gained a in November. A book titled “Bulgaria and with the embassy. The views expressed here do strong momentum. President of Bulgaria Japan — Politics, Diplomacy, Personalities not necessarily reflect those of the newspaper.

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