President Simina & Vice President Palik Receive H.E. Takata Toshihisa, Special Envoy of the Prime Minister of Japan

PALIKIR, Pohnpei—On May 17th, 2023, His Excellency Wesley W. Simina—President of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM)—and the Honorable Aren B. Palik, Vice President of the FSM, received His Excellency Takata Toshihisa, Special Envoy of the Prime Minister of Japan, the Honorable Kishida Fumio. The purpose of the Special Envoy’s visit was to deliver a letter from Prime Minister Kishida to President Simina, as well as to further strengthen the FSM-Japan Kizuna (special bond), and to solicit the Simina-Palik administration’s views on topics of mutual interest. Joining President Simina and Vice President Palik were His Excellency John Fritz, Ambassador of the FSM to Japan, and the Honorable Kandi A. Elieisar, former Secretary of Foreign Affairs and contemporary consultant during the political transition period. Joining Special Envoy Takata was His Excellency Michigami Hisashi, Ambassador of Japan to the FSM.   On behalf of the FSM and its People, President Simina conveyed warmest greetings to the Special Envoy, and emphasized that the FSM’s Kizuna with the People and Government of Japan is important to maintain and uphold. “The People and Government of the FSM always take pride in our relations with the People and Government of Japan,” President Simina said, “Your visit is a testament of Japan’s commitment to our Kizuna.” President Simina reiterated the FSM’s commitment to extending peace, friendship, cooperation, and love in our common humanity to all peoples and nations, including the People and Government of Japan, and by extension the FSM’s continued commitment to a Free & Open Indo-Pacific and the rules-based international order.   On the subject of the forthcoming release of Advanced Liquid Processing System (ALPS)-treated water into the Pacific Ocean, President Simina and Vice President Palik reassured Special Envoy Takata that the FSM’s position remains unchanged, and that the FSM will continue to collaborate with Japan and other members of the Pacific Islands Forum to ensure that the ALPS issue is pursued in the best interest of all parties.   The meeting ended on a positive note, with President Simina and Vice President Palik extending an invitation to Prime Minister Kishida or his distinguished representative to the Joint Inauguration ceremonies to be held in July 2023 after the Special Election on July 4th.   The FSM-Japan Kizuna began on August 5th, 1988, and in 2023 the FSM-Japan Kizuna will celebrate 35 years of diplomatic relations and continue to celebrate more than 100 years of traditional relations, inclusive of cultural and blood ties between our two countries.

 

Source: FSM Information Services