Durrant Pate/Contributor

Jamaica deepened its bilateral relations with the ongoing visit to Japan of a parliamentary delegation led by Speaker of the House of Representatives, Juliet Holness.

During the visit, which kicked off last on February 1, Holness created history as the first House speak from Jamaica to make an official visit to Japan. 

The visit, which ends this weekend, also comprised Members of Parliament Tamika Davis, Dwight Sibblies and Dr Morais Guy, as well as Colleen Lowe, clerk to the houses of Parliament. 

The visit came at the invitation of Japan’s Speaker of the House of Representatives, Fukushiro Nukaga. 

Last Wednesday, Mrs Holness paid a courtesy call on Japan’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Iwaya Takeshi, who welcomed the visit, expressing his hope to further strengthen the relationship between the two countries.

Last year, Jamaica and Japan celebrated their 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.

Minister Iwaya highlighted that Japan and Jamaica have been deepening bilateral cooperation in the areas of maritime affairs, defence, and culture, as well as in international fora and expressed Japan’s intention to cooperate with Jamaica to develop the global partnership between the two countries.

Holness expressed her honour at being the first Jamaican House speaker to make an official visit to Japan saying this visit will kick-start the enhancement of bilateral relations in various areas. These include collaboration at the parliamentary level. 

The two sides concurred on continuing to work together not only bilaterally but also on common challenges including climate change, as partners that share the same values