Japan opens embassy in Nicosia as it seeks to boost trade

Japan opening an embassy in Nicosia marks an historic milestone in bilateral relations between the two countries, President Nicos Anastasiades said.

In an address at the opening of the Embassy on Monday, President Anastasiades said the relationship between the two countries is based on genuine friendship, shared values and interests, mutual respect and understanding and a joint resolve to further deepen cooperation.

He said Cyprus will open an embassy in Tokyo, by the end of the year, tangible proof of a desire to widen the partnership with Japan.

To date, Japan’s ambassador accredited to Cyprus had been resident in Athens, with an Honourary Consulate operating in Cyprus.

Nicosia also signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with Japan on humanitarian issues as part of a series of agreements to be signed in the near future.

Japan’s State Minister of Foreign Affairs, Kazuyuki Nakane and Anastasiades also discussed the future potential of a Cyprus-Japan partnership.

They are committed to encourage more high-level exchanges between officials from both governments, as well as increasing people-to-people contacts, with the aim to strengthen collaborations, international scene.

They also reaffirmed commitment to enhance the institutional framework of co-operation through exploring new areas of beneficial joint ventures, particularly in the areas of tourism, trade, investments, culture and merchant shipping.

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Cyprus welcomed the Economic Partnership Agreement signed last week between the EU and Japan, saying it is an extremely important agreement, not only because it further institutionalises EU – Japan relations, but also because it constitutes a model of free, open and fair trade and investment rules, of which both Japan and the EU, including Cyprus, are to benefit from.