Armenia highly values cooperation with Japan – Deputy Speaker says at Emperor’s Birthday embassy reception

On February 20, Vice President of the National Assembly of Armenia, Hakob Arshakyan, participated in the reception at the embassy of Japan in Armenia dedicated to the 65th birthday of the Emperor of Japan.

Arshakyan delivered a speech at the event. 

Addressing the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Armenia Yutaka Aoki and the guests, Hakob Arshakyan warmly congratulated them on Japan's national holiday - the birthday of His Majesty the Emperor of Japan.

He noted that the Armenia-Japan relations have traditionally developed in an atmosphere of mutual trust and understanding.

Since the establishment of diplomatic relations, these thirty and more years have stood out by close cooperation characteristic to the two democratic countries, based on respect for fundamental human rights and democratic values.

"We highly appreciate the cooperation established between Armenia and Japan in a number of areas over the past years, including disaster prevention, human resources development, promotion of infrastructure, small and medium-sized enterprises, and other areas. The Armenian Government is also grateful to the Japanese Government for its continued support in addressing the needs of our forcibly displaced compatriots," the Arshakyan said, according to a press release published by the parliament’s press service. 

Arshakyan said that Armenia attaches importance to Japan's constructive and impartial stance towards the efforts of the Armenian Government to establish stability and peace in the region.

"At the same time, we expect Japan's more active involvement not only in the political, economic, cultural and humanitarian spheres, but also in the formation of a security environment based on international law and the rule of law in the region, anchored on full respect for the principles of sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of the states," Hakob Arshakyan said.

The Deputy Speaker noted that bilateral economic relations occupy a special place in the Armenia-Japan relations. He expressed confidence that the efforts made by both sides in this context, including the further expansion of the bilateral legal and contractual framework, will provide an opportunity to promote trade turnover volumes, as well as tourism and business ties and people-to-people contacts, contributing to raising the level of awareness of each other among the Armenian and Japanese peoples.

“I warmly remember the meeting with the Speaker of the House of Representatives of Japan during my visit to Tokyo in September 2022, during which the Japanese colleagues pointed out the recognition of Aram Khachaturian and Komitas in Japan, as well as the presence of their works in the educational programmes of music schools.

Within the framework of the same visit, during the meeting with the Minister for Digital Transformation Taro Kono, we agreed to form a working group, as a result of whose activities I received an invitation yesterday to attend the official opening ceremony of the Tumo Center in Takasaki, Japan, scheduled for June 1,” the Vice President of the National Assembly said, adding that Tumo Gunma will be available to 1.500 young people living in the communities of the prefecture. Tumo’s unique educational model will teach programming, animation, filmmaking, game creation, 3D modeling, drawing and motion graphics.

“These facts are vivid evidence that the relations between Armenia and Japan have more than great potential, which also include the cultural and educational spheres. Let me also congratulate friendly Japan on hosting the world’s largest economic event, the “EXPO 2025” World Exhibition in Osaka this year and wish it success in the works of the exhibition. As you know, Armenia will also participate in the mentioned exhibition. I am convinced that it will provide a unique opportunity to present the economic, cultural, technological, educational and tourist attractions of Armenia to the Japanese people, creating new prospects for the further development and deepening of cooperation in these areas,” the Arshakyan said.

Once again congratulating the Japanese friends on the national holiday, Hakob Arshakyan assured that no efforts will be spared to boost Armenia-Japan relations and elevate them to a new qualitative level.