20 Nov 2016

The Vice President, Mr Mokgweetsi Masisi, has re-affirmed Botswana’s commitment to continue working closely with Japan.

Speaking after Japan ambassador conferred on him the Decoration of the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun in Gaborone on Thursday November 17, Mr Masisi said he was humbled to have been chosen to receive the award from Japan Emperor Akihito.

“Botswana and Japan have over the years enjoyed friendly and fruitful associations since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1966,” he said.

The two countries, he said, witnessed significant growth in the level of exchanges, offers of development assistance as well as trade, investment and tourism exchanges.

He said Botswana appreciated support that Japan extended to the country’s development endeavours.

Mr Masisi noted that Botswana had benefited from the Japanese government in the area of technical assistance, which saw implementation of projects such as the digital migration project, the project for enhancing national forest monitoring system, Jatropha research project and the one stop border post project.

He also said Japan government, through the Grant Aid Assistance for Grass Roots Human Security Projects, had continued to touch and enrich lives of ordinary Batswana.

“Since the project’s implementation in 1997, grants amounting to millions of Pula have been awarded to deserving organisations engaged with the upliftment of lives of Batswana.

We are indeed gratified to have recently received under this project, donations for the construction of a pre-school at Tlhale Primary School in Gumare, the refurbishment of the Bobonong Home Based Care and the Humana People to People Vocational Training Centre in Selebi Phikwe,” said Mr Masisi.

For his part, Japanese ambassador, Mr Masahiro Onishi said this decoration was Japan’s highest honour given to a foreign citizen who was considered as a major contributor to Japan.

“As this honour is awarded to foreign citizens who have promoted the cordial bilateral relationship between Japan and their own nations, the Vice President has been awarded this honour due to his continuous dedication in strengthening the bilateral relationship between Japan and Botswana during his time as minister for presidential affairs as well as Minister of Education and Skills Development and in his current position of Vice President,” he said.

Ambassador Onishi said the conferment of the award was evidence of how Japan and Botswana developed their bilateral relationship closely and diligently over the 50 years since independence of Botswana.

He said Japan and Botswana shared the same fundamental values such as democracy, rule of law and respect of human rights.

“Botswana is considered as a valued partner of Japan and I sincerely hope that today’s conferment of the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun on His Honour will be a great opportunity to further deepen our friendly relationship,” he said. ENDS