POLITICS
JAPANESE EMBASSY IN BAKU HOLDS RECEPTION TO MARK EMPEROR AKIHITO`S 76TH BIRTHDAY
Baku, December 10 (AZERTAC). The embassy of Japan in Azerbaijan organized on Wednesday an official reception to mark the 76th birthday of Emperor Akihito.
Opening the event, ambassador Masamitsu Oki said under Japan`s present constitution, the Emperor is the “symbol of the state and the unity of the people”, and his birthday is marked as a public holiday in the country.
Touching upon relations between Azerbaijan and Japan, the diplomat noted President Ilham Aliyev`s visit to Japan in 2006 contributed to elevating “our relationship” to a qualitatively new level.
He expressed assurance that relations between the two countries would develop not only in political and economic, but also cultural, sport and education areas.
Azerbaijan`s education minister Misir Mardanov congratulated the Japanese people on behalf of President Ilham Aliyev.
He said relations between Azerbaijan and Japan started to rapidly develop after the visits by national leader Heydar Aliyev in 1998 and President Ilham Aliyev in 2006.
He expressed confidence that relationship between “our countries” would continue to strengthen.
Officials, MPs, ambassadors to Baku and others attended the event.