Agenda of the working visit of the President of Latvia to Japan includes participation in Coronation of His Majesty Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako and other events at the Imperial Palace. President will also have several bilateral meetings. President Levits will also visit Waseda University and give lecture titled ‘Latvia’s perspective on challenges in modern democracies’.
Full agenda of the Visit of the President of Latvia to Japan.
Address of the President of Latvia, Egils Levits, to the Latvian diaspora of Japan, Japanese mixed choir 'Gaisma' (Light) and students learning Latvian at the Latvia's Embassy in Japan
Your Excellency, Madam Ambassador,
Dear staff members of the embassy,
Fellow countrymen,
Dear friends,
I am deeply honoured to be among you here today. I am happy to hear Latvian songs and language so far from Latvia. I am also happy that you have created a little 'enclave' of Latvian language and culture here. As Madam Ambassador highlighted, language and culture are elements that strongly contribute to Japanese and Latvian identity.
We are also bound by another element. Last year, my wife and I visited Japan and travelled around a number of places here. I was able to admire how important environment and care of the environment are to Japanese. We, the Latvians, share the same passion with Japanese. Out of all European nations, Latvians particularly stand out as the nation that has rather strong bond with environment. It is even reflected in our Satversme (Constitution).
Relations between Japan and Latvia were established shortly after the proclamation of the Republic of Latvia. Latvia, of course, is a lot younger than Japan. We recently celebrated the centenary of our statehood, which is almost as long as political and diplomatic relations between our two countries have existed.
Japan was one of the first countries to de facto recognise the newly-established state of Latvia. Japan opened its diplomatic mission in Latvia soon after and we became one of the few Northern European countries that had Japanese embassy. Japanese embassy in Latvia played an important role during our occupation by the Soviet Union. Japanese embassy helped several Latvian politicians and diplomats escape persecution and subsequent deportation to Siberia. Japan consistently implemented the policy of non-recognition of the occupation of Baltic countries and Japan's diplomatic mission in Riga was reopened soon after the restoration of our country's independence.
Japan and Latvia have built deep and successful political and economic relations, but the 'cherry on the cake' is our close cultural bond. My wife and I first noticed the choir 'Gaisma' during last year's Song and Dance Festival parade. Thank you for taking part in our Song and Dance Festival. I believe that despite the distance between our countries it clearly demonstrates how mutually beneficial and strong the cultural bond between us is.
The First Lady and I have come to Japan to attend the Coronation of His Majesty Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako. I will also meet with the Prime Minister of Japan, H.E. Mr Shinzo Abe. These meetings show that the relationship between our two countries is indeed built of very friendly and strong foundation, and I believe that these ties will only strengthen in future. However, by being here and taking part in tonight's event you have shown the strength of this bond in practical terms. You have shown that Latvia is close to your heart as much as the ties between Latvia and Japan. Thank you for being here tonight at this event and good luck!
