Saudi Gazette

JEDDAH — The Consulate General of Japan hosted a reception to celebrate the 84th Birthday of Emperor Akihito, which is marked as the country’s National Day.

The reception at the residence of the Japan’s Consul General Masayuki Miyamoto was attended by government officials headed by Ambassador Jamal Bakr Balkheour, director–general of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Makkah Region Branch, as well as other consul generals in Jeddah, diplomats, Saudi businessmen and media figures, in addition to prominent members of the Japanese community.

After the national anthems of Japan and Saudi Arabia were played, Miyamoto delivered a speech in which he welcomed all the guests and stressed on the excellent relationships between Japan and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as the two countries enjoy deep, strong and friendly relations based on mutual respect and appreciation, not only between the two peoples and the governments, but also the Imperial and Royal Families of the two countries.

He said that Japan had much interest in and admired the great current Kingdom developments in all fields led by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman, deputy premier and minister of defense. Crown Prince Muhammad has launched a comprehensive plan “Saudi Vision 2030” and Japan is one of the first countries which announced its support to the Vision. Japan has started to offer its expertise in such fields as energy, water, infrastructure, metro and train projects, culture, entertainment, sports and other development projects needed in the Kingdom.

Miyamoto expressed his deep gratitude to the Saudi people for their hospitality and warm welcome to him since he arrived in Jeddah earlier this year. He expressed happiness for his return to Saudi Arabia, as he had started his career as a diplomat at the Embassy of Japan in Riyadh 30 years ago.

He expressed his hope that mutual relations will develop further to meet the expectations of the leaders of the two friendly countries and that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia would enjoy more progress, prosperity and growth under the leadership of King Salman.

Later Ambassador Balkheour and Masayuki Miyamoto along with other diplomats cut the celebratory cake.