Africa-Press – Cape verde. Cape Verde and Japan marked the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations this Thursday, celebrated on July 11th, with a cultural event in Praia, where the two countries reinforced their mutual commitment to expanding cooperation.
In his opening speech, the representative of the Japanese ambassador to Cape Verde, Yoshiaki Hatta, greeted the Cape Verdean government and people on the 50th anniversary of national independence, which also coincides with the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
“For half a century we have built a solid partnership, based on friendship, trust and shared values, such as democracy and the rule of law,” he noted.
He emphasized that Japan and Cape Verde share a common identity, that of an island nation, which exposes both countries to the same challenges, but also creates a natural solidarity and an emotional bond that facilitates mutual understanding.
He highlighted that over the past 50 years his country has cooperated with Cape Verde in various areas such as the blue economy, drinking water supply, food security, infrastructure, energy, health, education, and support for women.
“We are aware that the challenges posed by climate change and natural disasters require strengthening resilience in several areas, and Japan will work together to address them,” he assured.
For his part, the Minister of Culture and Creative Industries, Augusto Veiga, representing the Government of Cape Verde, emphasized that Japan has been a fundamental partner in the development of Cape Verde.
“Japanese cooperation has left a concrete and transformative mark on the daily lives of Cape Verdeans through significant investments in the water and sanitation, fisheries, energy, environment, and education sectors,” he acknowledged.
He showed that through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Cape Verdeans have had the opportunity to train in strategic areas, contributing to the strengthening of national capacities and the modernization of national institutions. The minister also praised the cultural dimension of this relationship, stating that “the Japanese culture, marked by precision, aesthetics, and tradition, and the Cape Verdean culture, vibrant, plural, and equally creative, have been a natural bridge for bringing our peoples closer together.”
He said that Cape Verde has a strong ambition to elevate this partnership to a higher level in areas crucial for the future, including the sustainable management of ocean resources and strengthening climate resilience.
The event, held at the National Auditorium, featured the participation of artists from Japan, namely Matsuoka Dai and Ishi Norihito, Saito Maki, Sato Kimiya, and Kanamine Keitaro, and from Cape Verde, the Raiz di Polon group and schools from the Access to Culture Scholarship program.
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