2-3 December 2003　His Excellency Yousuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah, Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs came to Hiroshima.

  Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs of Oman came to Japan at invitation of ministry of foreign affairs on November 30. He came to Hiroshima after talking with Kawaguchi, the Minister of Foreign Affairs on December 2. He had a time with members of our Friendship Association, visited Miyajima and the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum.
He made a speech about activities of our Friendship Association at the party.

“I really appreciate your association has promoted friendship between Japan and Oman.

I would like to expect and cooperate that our friendship will spread more and more in the future.”

Mr. Akiba, a mayor of Hiroshima, welcomed the Minister at the Peace Park, he put flowers to the comfort monument, visited the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum.

He left a message in register book.

“The model of the recovery getting over the sufferings is shown.

People all over the world should know a message of Hiroshima.”

Press Release (December 23, 2003)

VISIT OF THE

 MINISTER RESPONSIBLE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS

TO JAPAN  

His Excellency Yousuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs, paid an official visit to Japan during the period from November 30 to December 4, 2003 , in response to official invitation as an honorable guest of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. This is the first official visit to Japan by H.E. Alawi who, in fact, paid many unofficial visits to Japan in the past.

          During his visit, H.E. Alawi met with many Japanese high ranking officials, including the HIH Prince Naruhito, the Crown Prince of Japan, H.E. Yasuo Fukuda, Chief Cabinet Secretary, H.E.  Yoriko Kawaguchi, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, H.E. Shigeru Ishiba, the Director General of the Defence Agency, and others. They discussed ways of strengthening bilateral relations, regional and international issues of common concern.

           During his stay in Japan, H.E. Alawi made a one-day visit to Hiroshima, visited the Peace Memorial Park and was acquainted with the atrocities and disasters of the Second World War on the city.

           This visit, as an official visit by His Excellency, consolidated means of promoting bilateral relations between the Sultanate and Japan, particularly in the fields of economic and cultural cooperation.

 Japan is undertaking two important projects in the Sultanate of Oman:

1.                 The Study on Road Network Development in the Sultanate of Oman. [already implemented]

2.                 National Port Development Strategy Study. [to be launched as from December 2003]

In the cultural field, it has been agreed to make a success of the cultural activities to be organized next year on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the Oman-Japan Friendship Association.

As for the political filed, it has been agreed to further cooperation and consultations to maintain peace and stability in the Middle East region.

  

              For more information please contact  Information and Cultural Section, Embassy of Japan, Tel: 601028, E-mail : embjapan@omantel.net.om