Japanese ambassador: Ties with Maldives have strengthened within last 10 years

Japanese ambassador to Maldives and Sri Lanka, Kenichi Suganuma has said that relations between Maldives and Japan had strengthened during the past 10 years.

Speaking during the banquet held at Dharubaaruge on Monday night to celebrate a Japanese embassy being opened in Maldives, Kenichi said that opening the embassy would further

strengthen the ties.

“…We have felt ties between the two countries further strengthening over the past 10 years. A Maldivian embassy was opened in Tokyo on 2007. President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom visited Maldives during 2014. Ties will be strengthened further with the opening of embassy here, this year,” said Kenichi.

Kenichi expressed for a deeper, more meaningful dialogue between the two governments and people of the two countries.

“…There are many more areas that Maldives and Japan can work together on. As you know, approximately 40,000 Japanese tourists visit Maldives each year. We hope to increase the number of Japanese tourists who visit Maldives,” he said.

The banquet was attended by Maldivian Foreign Minister Dhunya Maumoon, Japanese Parliamentary Vice-Minister Masakazu Hamachi, ambassadors to Maldives from other countries and heads of diplomatic missions.