Moldovan premier, Japanese ambassador tackle diplomacy aspects

Chisinau, 16 December /MOLDPRES/ - Acting Prime Minister Iurie Leanca and recently appointed Kiev-based Ambassador of Japan to Moldova Shigeki Sumi discussed opening a Moldovan diplomatic mission in Japan and other topics today, the government’s communication and media relations department has reported.

The sides also covered topics focused on bilateral dialogue, Japanese assistance provided to Moldova, and attracting Japanese investments into the national economy.

Iurie Leanca welcomed the appointment of Shigeki Sumi as ambassador to Moldova. Referring to the Moldovan Embassy in Japan, due to be inaugurated in the next spring, Iurie Leanca said this would be a point of strengthening and deepening the political, cultural and economic ties between Chisinau and Tokyo.

Iurie Leanca also spoke approached the need to increase economic and trade exchanges and sustained effort to attract Japanese investment to the Moldovan economy. The acting prime minister expressed, on behalf of the cabinet of ministers, gratitude to Japan for the technical and financial assistance provided to Moldova.

For his part, the ambassador said he would contribute to strengthening the relations between Chisinau and Tokyo in all sectors. Similarly, the diplomat spoke about possibilities to promote Moldovan wines on the Japanese market, some of which are already being sold in Japan.

According to the latest data put out by the National Statistics Bureau, Moldova imported Japanese goods worth 22.8 million dollars and exported goods amounting to 292,500 dollars in January-September 2014.

Japan offered Moldova, including through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), financial assistance grants amounting to 92.8 million dollars by 1 July 2014. The areas which benefited from assistance from Japan were agriculture, health, culture, science, education, security and development of small and medium enterprises.