Mighty Japan is hoping to learn from tiny Malta in its efforts to attract more tourists, according to a senior Foreign Affairs Ministry official in Tokyo.
“Japan wants to become a tourism-oriented country and is striving to attract tourists from overseas. We hope to learn from Malta, a leading country in this field, and do hope the people of Malta will visit Japan,” the Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, Miki Yamada, said. She is currently on a brief visit to the island.
Her visit coincides with the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. She said that as both Japan and Malta strove to attract tourists, people-to-people exchanges were improving. The number of Japanese studying English in Malta was increasing.
The value of Malta’s exports to Japan last year totalled €106 million, while imports reached €49 million. Dr Yamada, a law graduate, said the goods traded were limited to certain sectors, such as automobiles and tuna.
We hope to learn from Malta, a leading country in this field, and do hope the people of Malta will visit Japan
“Thus, it is true that there is potential to further increase bilateral trade and investment. I would like to take advantage of my visit here to deepen and expand Japan’s future relationship with Malta in a wide range of fields, including diplomatic and trade relations,” she said.
She acknowledged that gaining a better understanding of each other’s attractiveness through people-to-people exchanges was important to strengthening relationships in various fields, including the economy.
In this regard, a series of Japanese cultural events are being held in Valletta.
Dr Yamada highlighted the fact that both countries were surrounded by the sea, with Malta being located in a strategic place in the Mediterranean.
“This means we have a lot of potential for strengthening maritime cooperation. We already established a trading relationship through marine products such as tuna but we hope to further enhance the cooperative relationship between Japan and Malta in other areas including the maritime transportation field, in which Malta possesses strengths, and in ensuring the safety of ocean traffic through the consolidation of the rule of law at sea,” she added.
When asked about the international situation, Dr Yamada referred to the terroristic attack in Paris, describing it as inhuman, despicable and unjustified.
“Japan will continue to proactively engage in preventing and eradicating terrorism together with the international community, through support for counterterrorism capacity-building and measures to counter violent extremism. This is another area in which Japan would like to cooperate with Malta,” she said.
Dr Yamada also referred to the problem of migrants and refugees saying her country pledged solidarity with Europe, including Malta, in dealing with the issue.
“Japan intends to coordinate more closely with Malta, including in responding to challenges common to both Asia and Europe, while utilising the frameworks for dialogue that bridge both regions, such as the Asia-Europe Meeting,” she said.