| Hakim Hayat |
BRUNEI Darussalam and Japan seek to boost its already strong friendship by forging closer contacts between people from both countries through different avenues such as more cultural and education exchange programmes and deeper cooperation in tourism, said the newly appointed Chairman of the Japan-Brunei Friendship Association (JBFA) Michiaki Hirose yesterday.
During a joint press conference between the newly appointed JBFA Chairman and President of the Brunei-Japan Friendship Association (BJFA) Dato Paduka Haji Hamdillah bin Haji Abdul Wahab at the Japanese Embassy in Brunei Darussalam in Jalan Kiulap yesterday, Hirose said that apart from a strong trade relationship between both countries, the recent years have seen many personal and cultural exchange that has contributed to deeper ties.
“The JBFA has contributed to the promotion of friendship between both countries through youth exchange programmes and has rendered its support for cultural events in Brunei,” added Hirose, while reaffirming the JBFA’s commitment to sustain the efforts.
Under his helm, the new chairman shared some of JBFA’s plans in enhancing Brunei-Japan friendship including a one-week industrial and cultural study tour for Bruneian university students to Japan. The JBFA will also be financially supporting the next Japanese language and culture week held by the Embassy of Japan in Brunei Darussalam, which is an event designed to raise awareness of the Japanese culture.
The new chairman also said he has met with the Bruneian Ambassador to Japan in an annual JBFA meeting recently in Japan, where he said both sides have reaffirmed each others’ goals towards the development of stronger relationship.
As the next host country for the Olympics and Paralympics Games in 2020, Hirose also expressed his hope to see more Bruneians visiting Japan over the next few years and said he is also happy to see more Japanese tourists coming to Brunei.
He said although there are no direct flights between both countries at the moment, he hopes to see this materialise in the near future and said discussions between both countries are taking place to enable better connectivity between people of both countries.
“As the new chairman, I hope to spread deeper awareness and understanding on Brunei among the Japanese people by promoting Brunei culture and its beauty,” he added.
Dato Paduka Haji Hamdillah echoed Hirose’s statement and said that the BJFA is committed to actively engage with the JBFA in the promotion of friendship between both countries by enhancing many of their already implemented projects such as student and cultural exchange programmes.
The Japanese Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam Motohiko Kato also expressed his hope that Hirose’s visit to Brunei will further strengthen the bilateral relationship at a non-governmental level.
The JBFA was established in 1985 to further deepen the friendship between Japan and Brunei through cultural and educational exchange. JBFA is working on promoting Brunei in Japan, planning events for youth exchange and distributing information on Japan and Brunei in each country.