Message from Ambassador

Back in May this year, Foreign Minister Motegi visited Kenya. At the special lecture event in Nairobi hosted by Global Centre for Policy and Strategy (GLOCEPS) and the Embassy, he delivered a speech on the theme of the newly updated concept of “Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP),” with the entire African continent as its audience. In it, he called upon international cooperation with the emphasis on autonomy and resilience, in order to make sure that, amid today’s turmoil in geopolitics, the cooperation will effectively promote stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region. Following the example of the late Prime Minister Abe, who had proposed the original FOIP in Nairobi for the first time in 2016, Minister Motegi sent out the message that defined Africa as an important partner of Japan to pursue the new FOIP together. Also, he had thorough discussion from broad perspectives on the future of Japan-Kenya bilateral cooperation, with President Ruto at his courtesy call on President and with PCS Mudavadi at his meeting with PCS. These high-level communications were very effective.
 
In this month of September, Her Imperial Highness Princess Hisako of Takamado visited Kenya. She attended the global partners meeting of Birdlife International, a body that promotes the protection of birds, as its Honorary President. She unified the aspiration of Birdlife partners worldwide, saying that international cooperation is essential in the protection of birds, because birds do not know national boundaries. She gave a lecture at United Nations Environment Programme. In it, Princess stressed how important, for the sustainability of human lives, to preserve the conditions under which human being and birds can live in harmony. This point led her to the conclusion that the sustainability of human lives can be attainable only under the harmony with nature also in the context of broader environmental issues, not least climate change. Further, Princess engaged in events to promote Japan-Kenya relations and Japan-UN relations, such as the courtesy call on President Ruto, exchange of views with several afforestation bodies, conversation with the Japanese residents in Kenya and conversation with Kenyans who are involved in the relationship with Japan.
 
These two high-level visits followed President Ruto’s two visits to Japan that had taken place in the consecutive years of the year before last year and last year. I am very much pleased, because those visits mirror the reality on the ground that the close relationship between our two countries is supported by mutual flow of people in both ways. For Minister Motegi, this visit was his fourth, and his second as Foreign Minister. For Princess Takamado, this visit was her third, and her second as Princess. These numers, which are true reflection of their special affection with Kenya, singularly articulate the significance of their visits to Kenya. The series of the mutual visits, starting from Prime Minister Kishida’s visit to Kenya in 2023 and continuing every year without break to date, has made the bilateral relationship more solid and given it further momentum.
 
It is also significant that both Minister Motegi and Princess Takamado chose Kenya as the platform to transmit their messages to the whole Africa and the whole world. This fact reveals the level of Japan’s trust and expectation in Kenya as its partner in the international arena.
 
Now with the spirit of cooperation between Japan and Kenya thus reaffirmed and elevated at the high level, the task is left for us to make this high spirit bear its fruits on the ground. I would like to continue working on this task together with you, hand in hand. I greatly look forward to it.