The milestone of the sixtieth anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Cyprus and Japan was highlighted during a meeting held by President of the House of Representatives Annita Demetriou in Tokyo, with her Japanese counterpart Hiroyuki Hosoda, to whom she conveyed the sincere condolences of herself, the Government of Cyprus and the House of Representatives on the unexpected death of former Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe.
According to a parliament press release, particular reference was made to the common characteristics of the two countries as island states, despite their geographical distance, as well as to their shared commitment to common principles and values, in particular respect for international law. Both sides noted that the mutual opening of embassies has given a significant impetus to the deepening of bilateral relations at all levels.
Regarding the Cyprus issue, Demetriou underlined the firm commitment of the Greek Cypriot side to the objective of resuming talks towards a solution of a bizonal bicommunal federation, in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions on Cyprus, which will reunite the country in conditions of peace, security and stability for the benefit of the entire Cypriot people.
In the context of the meeting, the press release says, the two Presidents exchanged views on the multi-level impact of the pandemic COVID-19 crisis on tourism and the economy of the two countries, as well as on the common challenges faced by the two countries as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. In this regard, Hosoda highlighted the joint declaration adopted by the G7 Parliament Presidents with the President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola, which condemns the Russian invasion of Ukraine in violation of international law and calls on Russia to end the war and withdraw its troops from the country.
Demetriou stressed that taking collective action in a spirit of solidarity and unity is a prerequisite for effectively addressing the multi-level impacts of the energy, climate and food crises.
Finally, the two Presidents reaffirmed their common will to further broaden and deepen cooperation between the Parliaments of the two countries and their respective Friendship Groups, as well as in areas of mutual interest, such as shipping, trade and tourism.
Source: Cyprus News Agency