Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Burundi
On February 28, 2024, the Assistant to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation Mr. Syldie Manirerekana joined the Staff of the Embassy of Japan to Burundi and Japanese residents in Burundi in celebration of the 64th birthday of His Majesty the Emperor of Japan.
During the ceremonies, His Excellency Mr. Isao FUKUSHIMA thanked the participants for being among them in celebrating the birthday of His Majesty the Emperor of Japan as well as the national day of Japan. During the celebration of His Majesty’s birthday on February 23, 2024, Ambassador Mr. Isao FUKUSHIMA indicated that he benefited from his trip from Kigali to Bujumbura with the goal of organizing that ceremony.
Mr. FUKUSHIMA presented his condolences to the Government of Burundi, the families and the loved ones of the victims of the loss of 9 people in the attacks of February 25, 2024, in Bubanza province. He also talked about the earthquake of January 1 which shook Japan and the difficult living conditions after the earthquake which caused the death or disappearance of nearly 250 people and the total destruction of more than 9,000 houses. On behalf of the Japanese Government and people, he addressed his sincere thanks to all the people of the world and especially to His Excellency President Ndayishimiye and the Government of Burundi, for the messages of sympathy and encouragement that they so kindly expressed for supporting the victims.
For Japanese-Burundian Cooperation, Japan supports Burundi in various areas including health, agriculture, education, transport, infrastructure, etc., said Mr. Isao FUKUSHIMA.
In his speech, to the Minister Assistant Mr. Syldie Manirerekana expressed his warm congratulations to Ambassador FUKUSHIMA, to the Japanese Government which he represents here in Burundi as well as to all his compatriots. “May the Emperor’s Day bring greater happiness, prosperity and well-being to his people,” he added. He paid the vibrant tribute to the Japanese Government through the Embassy of the Republic of Japan in Burundi, which spares no effort in strengthening the historical relations, which so happily unite the brotherly peoples of Burundi and Japan.
Mr. Syldie Manirerekana indicated that the Government of the Republic of Burundi fully appreciates the excellent relations of friendship and cooperation which have existed between those two countries for years and which continue strengthening further. He reminded that the cooperation between Burundi and Japan has existed since 1963, 61 years ago, and he is delighted with the privileged nature of the relations and exchanges that Burundi has maintained with Japan during all those periods.
According to the Minister’s Assistant, the Government of Burundi would also welcome the initiatives taken through the various TICA Summits, aimed at strengthening the relations with all the African countries. He expressed the Government’s wish that the projects submitted within that framework to be financed with a view of contributing to the effective realization of the vision of Burundi as an Emerging country in 2040, and Developed in 2060.
