Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and International Business, Christopher Sinckler, received a farewell visit from Ambassador of Japan to Barbados, Mr. Koichiro Seki.

Accompanied by Barbados’ Honorary Counsel to Japan, Wayne Kirton, Mr. Seki gave the assurance that the fruitful bilateral relationship between the two countries would continue even though his two-year tour of duty had come to an end.

The Ambassador also urged Minister Sinckler to identify Barbados’ technical assistance needs so that Japan could provide the expertise in these areas.

In thanking Mr. Seki for his outstanding service, Minister Sinckler said Barbados was happy to be associated with Japan and pointed out that both countries shared a mutual interest in a number of ways, particularly in the area of climate change. “The issues of rising sea levels, adverse weather effects and the warming of the waters, all of these as a small island developing state are of interest to us.  But more importantly, how can we together, as countries bilaterally, and at the multilateral level, try to forge a global alliance to reduce carbon emissions, to develop early warning systems and to identify financing for mitigation and adaptation strategies,” Mr. Sinckler observed.

They shared ideas on how to improve the existing relationship between Bridgetown and Tokyo.  These include more opportunities for Barbadians to study in Japan under an enhanced scholarship programme and the teaching of English by Barbadian teachers in Japanese classrooms.

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