On November 20, RA Minister of Foreign Affairs Edward Nalbandyan received Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan Takao Makino.

Greeting the guest, Minister Nalbandyan underlined the fact that Armenia will continue its efforts to expand and deepen cooperation with Japan and raise them to a new level. Edward Nalbandyan mentioned that President Serzh Sargsyan’s official visit to and meetings in Japan last year and the reached agreements brought a new sweep to Armenian-Japanese relations.

Expressing gratitude for the reception, Takao Makino voiced hope that the friendly partnership established through combined efforts would develop. Makino recalled and expressed gratitude for Serzh Sargsyan’s visit to the disaster zone during his visit to Japan last year following the earthquake in Japan, Armenia’s support to the victims and the mass that the Catholicos of All Armenians served for the victims of the earthquake at the St. Gregory the Illuminator Church in Yerevan, viewing them as manifestations of true friendship.

Edward Nalbandyan stressed the fact that the opening of the Embassy of Armenia in Tokyo helped expand partnership in several areas, helped the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of both countries hold regular consultations and led to the creation of a base for the deepening of cooperation. The Armenian foreign minister also attached importance to the initiative of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs to open an embassy in Yerevan.

During the conversation, the interlocutors discussed bilateral and inter-parliamentary cooperation, as well as cooperation in trade, economy, culture and education.

At the guest’s request, Edward Nalbandyan presented Armenia’s and the international community’s efforts for the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict resolution. In this context, the Japanese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs expressed his country’s support to the efforts for a peaceful settlement of the conflict.