Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Mr. Ahmed Naseem, who is currently on a three-day visit to Japan, called on H.E. Mr. Koichiro Gemba, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan, this morning. The meeting was followed by a Luncheon hosted by H.E. Mr. Joe Nakano, Parliamentary Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs.

During the meeting, the two Ministers reviewed bilateral ties and discussed areas for intensifying and for furthering cooperation between the two countries. The two Ministers expressed satisfaction with the high level of cooperation that exists between the two countries at both bilateral and multilateral level.  Minister Naseem conveyed the gratitude of the Government of the Maldives for the continued assistance from Japan in the development efforts of the Maldives.

Foreign Minister Gemba, expressed the gratitude of the government of Japan for the assistance provided by the government and the people of the Maldives in connection with The Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami disaster.

Later in the afternoon, Foreign Minister Naseem met with H.E. Mr. Keiro Kitagami, Vice Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and Mr. Hiroshi Watanabe, President / CEO of Japan Bank for International Corporation (JBIC).

Minister Naseem also addressed the National Press Club of Japan in the afternoon. This is the first time an official from the Maldives have addressed the National Press Club.

Minister Naseem, also held discussions with Mr. Jun Kambara, President of Tsuneishi Facilities & Craft Co. Ltd, today.  Tsuneishi Facilities & Craft Co. Ltd. is part of the Tsuneishi Holdings Group and they  specializes in aluminum ship building business which started at the Craft Engineering Department of Tsuneishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. They build and repair several types of vessels such as passenger ships, from 19GT to 150GT, operation vessels like patrol ships, control ships, survey ships, pilot boats and alarm boats as well as fishing boats. Recently, they have developed a catamaran ferry with effective anti-motion device.

Minister Naseem ended the day with a dinner hosted in his honour by the Chairman of Hitachi Plant Technologies Ltd. Mr. Masaharu Sumikawa. Hitachi Plant Technologies Ltd. is a partner of the Male’ Water & Sewerage Company Pvt. Ltd. (MWSC).