site.btaForeign Minister Kondov Confers with Japanese Ambassador Hisashi Michigami

The long-standing friendly relations between Bulgaria and Japan, based on shared values and similar positions on leading international issues, was praised during a meeting between caretaker Foreign Minister Ivan Kondov and Japanese Ambassador to Bulgaria Hisashi Michigami, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on its website Thursday. 

This year marks three anniversaries in bilateral relations - 115 years since the first official contacts, 85 years since the establishment and 65 years since the restoration of diplomatic relations, the Ministry added. Ivan Kondov noted the importance of relations with Japan for Bulgaria, as well as its desire for their further development and elevation.

He welcomed the intensification of political dialogue and the exchange of visits - the recent visits to Bulgaria of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Fukushiro Nukaga, as well as the visits to Japan of the Minister of Energy and the Minister of Tourism of Bulgaria, within the framework of which memorandums of cooperation were signed.

Ivan Kondov highlighted the great potential for further deepening relations in important areas such as economy, investment, technology, energy, tourism, science, education and culture. The successful cooperation under the Official Development Assistance for the Western Balkan countries, an important region for the Bulgarian foreign policy and for the stability of Europe as a whole, was highlighted.

On 8 October, the Ambassador of Japan attended a meeting of owners and representatives of leading Japanese companies in the fields of transport, construction, food industry, information technology, film industry, tourism, culture and art, as well as local government across the country with President Rumen Radev.

Bulgaria is counting on the presence of companies from Japan and investments in industrial parks, said the caretaker Minister of Economy and Industry, Petko Nikolov, who also met with the representatives of these companies.