His Majesty, King George Tupou the Fifth,
Lord Tu'ivakano, Honourable Prime Minister and Lady Tu'ivakano,
Honourable Ministers of the Crown,
Honourable Nobles of the Realm,
Honourable Members of Parliament,
Your Excellencies and Members of the Diplomatic Corps,
Members of the Clergy,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Mālō ‘aupito e me ‘a mai,
On behalf of the Government of Japan, I extend my heartfelt welcome to all of you for joining us here this evening to celebrate the 78th birthday of His Majesty the Emperor of Japan. His Majesty, Emperor Akihito, will be 78 years old on the 23rd of December this year.
As the end of every year approaches, the birthday of His Majesty marks a moment of solemn reflection for the People of Japan. For the People of the Kingdom of Tonga, the Christmas season is also a momentous occasion of reflection as well as family reunion and so forth. It is my privilege to host the reception to celebrate His Majesty's birthday three times since the establishment of the Embassy of Japan in the Kingdom of Tonga, as the first-resident Ambassador of Japan to the Kingdom.
1. On the Disaster
As you may be aware of, nine months has passed since the Great East Japan Earthquake and subsequent tsunami of March 11. This has been a year of extraordinary challenges for Japan. Nearly 20,000 people were killed or remain missing, and until now, nearly 30,000 were forced to evacuate and continue to endure hardships and challenges in their daily lives.
Meanwhile, the region and people who reside in the area are overcoming both physical and mental hardship that they have faced since the disaster. The daily lives of those outside the affected areas, including the metropolitan area of Tokyo, have almost returned to normal. The infrastructure and economy of the coastal areas of Tohoku, which were washed away by the tsunami, are recovering. Damaged supply chains are close to full restoration. Japan is also making steady progress towards securing stable control of the situation at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Stations.
A number of other challenges remain to be addressed, including removal of debris and rebuilding of the livelihoods of the people in the affected areas as well as developing a stronger country and community resilience to meet a tsunami of 40 meters of the maximum vertical height onshore above the see-level. The Government of Japan has been exerting all efforts to restore and reconstruct the disaster-affected area. And, Japan will seek a safe and brighter future, based on this tragic experience, lessons and knowledge that we learned from it.
Throughout this year, I have been deeply moved by the strength of compassion and sense of solidarity that has been extended to the People and the Government of Japan from the People and the Government of the Kingdom of Tonga. It has also made me reaffirm how close, deep, and cordial our relationship is. Taking this opportunity, I would like to express our sincere appreciation, on behalf of the People and the Government of Japan, to the People and the Government of the Kingdom of Tonga, for your warm and encouraging sympathy, condolences, supports, and donations offered throughout this year.
It is also a great pleasure for me, as the head of mission, that the Embassy of Japan has been almost completing its planned activities for 2011 despite of the disaster, thanks to the support from the People and Government of Tonga. Please let me review some activities of the Embassy of Japan for 2011.
2. Review of 2011
2-1. Economic Cooperation
As most of you might be aware of, the upgrading and refurbishing of Vaiola Hospital is underway. Despite of the damages caused to the supply chain in Japan by the earthquake and tsunami, the construction process is right on schedule or slightly ahead of schedule at this moment towards the planned completion in next March. Early next year, the project to install the solar energy system to households in the outer islands will commence.
While the technical cooperation project to upgrade the seismic network for earthquake has been completed, experts for the two other technical cooperation projects in the field of waste-management and community health development have started working. The Embassy of Japan has also worked for prompt implementation and adoption of community-focused grant assistance projects under the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects, or more commonly known as the GGP.
Furthermore, 44 JICA volunteers are currently working in the Kingdom of Tonga in various areas and fields. Meanwhile, 28 Tongans participated, or will participate, in the JICA training program of this Japanese FY 2011. These volunteers and trainees have contributed, not only towards the developments of Tonga, but also towards strengthening the friendly relations between our two countries. In addition, several Government Officials of the Kingdom of Tonga have also been invited to workshops or conferences held in Japan.
2-2. Culture and Education
In the area of culture and education, the Embassy of Japan hosted several events this year; two music concerts, hip-hop dance and Okinawa traditional performing arts, a Japanese language contest, and Soroban, Japanese abacus, contests for teachers and students as well as the Japanese Dolls Exhibition and the Japanese Cuisine Demonstration and Workshop.
This year, Japan has welcomed two young Tongan teachers as teaching assistants for English education at secondary schools through our Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme (JET Programme). In addition, two Tongan Japanese Language teachers were invited to a designated training program for Japanese Language teachers.
2-3. Ownership and Partnership
I often heard some of you saying that the Kingdom of Tonga is a very small island country with quite limited natural resources. However, I would argue that you have quality human resources and a good education system, like Japan. The 2011 UNDP Human Development Report illustrates the significant achievement of the Kingdom of Tonga that has been made by the Government. We also take note of the National Progress Report on Millennium Development Goals and Social Protection Issue Paper, published this year. In order to sustain this achievement and make further progress, especially in the moment of rapid change, it is not sufficient to continue status-quo.
The important point here is whether you have a clear strategy and a series of policies to exploit and utilize these human resources efficiently and effectively to deliver an impact in the prosperity and sustainability of its development process in the Kingdom of Tonga. Proactive ownership and close cooperation with common understanding and mutual respect, in information sharing, planning, and implementation, are necessary to make full use of the Japanese economic cooperation scheme and various cultural and educational exchange programs, so as to deliver results for the people.
3. Toward 2012
The year 2011 has been the year of change for both our nations. As the first democratically-elected prime minister, despite of the current economic hardship, honorable prime minister, Lord Tu'ivakano and your cabinet, have continued their reform efforts to a more transparent and accountable government and crystallized the visions and ideals of Tongan Strategic Development Framework. It is my honor and pleasure to work together with the new government as was the case with the previous government. It is also my privilege to eyewitness the exciting and momentous change and transition and work here both in this country.
Next May, Japan will host the sixth Pacific Island Leaders Meeting, or PALM 6, in Okinawa. The Government of Japan is looking forward to inviting you, Lord Tu'ivakano, and working with you and the Ministries concerned towards efforts of the forthcoming PALM. I hope that, through honest and frank discussions and consultations among leaders, the forthcoming PALM will help us to establish common grounds to move forward and deepen our bilateral relationship further.
Conclusion
Last year was the fortieth Anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between our two countries. During the last forty years, we have developed these cordial and friendly relations. Such long and warm relations between us are symbolized by the respectful relationship between the Royal family of the Kingdom and the Imperial family of Japan. The most recent visit of His Majesty the King to Japan was January this year. Their Majesties Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko of Japan have warmly received His Majesty the King in Tokyo. I hope that the people and the governments of the two countries continue and further deepen this long and warm cordial and friendly relation for the generations to come.
Now I would like to propose a toast, for the prosperity and the welfare of his Majesty, King George Tupou the Fifth, and, to the people of the Kingdom of Tonga. May the friendly and cordial relations between our two countries continue to grow!!
(Tongan National Anthem played)
To His Majesty the King and People of Tonga!
‘Ofa atu
Kanpai
Cheers
Thank You
Malo 'aupito.
>> View Photo Album HERE
END.
Issued by the: Ministry of Information and Communications, Nuku'alofa 2011.
