Japan Amb Satoshi Suzuki completes his term, leaves India as his successor Hiroshi Suzuki to join in November
NEW DELHI: After the completion of his two-year and 11-month term as Ambassador to India and Bhutan, Satoshi Suzuki on Wednesday left for Japan. He will now join as Ambassador of Italy in November. The new ambassador to India and Bhutan Hiroshi Suzuki (61) who has served as a senior deputy minister for foreign affairs and minister at the Japanese embassies in London and Seoul, will join office in the first week of November.
In his parting note after leaving India Ambassador Satoshi Suzuki said that even under the situation deeply affected by Covid-19 pandemic, ties between Japan and India in the areas of politics, security, economy, and development have further deepened, and cooperation between the two countries has progressed during his tenure.
“For example, there have been major progress such as the first-ever Japan-India Foreign and Defense Ministerial Meeting (“2+2”), the signing and implementation of the Japan-India Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (Japan-India ACSA), and the first-ever Japan-India-U.S.-Australia (QUAD) Summit Meeting,” the ambassador stated.
On the economic front, during Prime Minister Kishida’s visit to India in March this year, the two Prime Ministers confirmed that they will promote active investment by Japanese companies in India in light of the 5-trillion-yen target in public and private sector investment and financing from Japan to India over the next five years. Civil engineering works of Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail project were also commenced and it is much in progress. In the area of personal exchanges, the Memorandum of Cooperation regarding “Specified Skilled Workers” was signed, in view of post-Covid period. I earnestly hope that the cooperation between the two countries will be further strengthened.
Ambassador Satoshi Suzuki said,“Despite the pandemic, I had opportunities to visit many cities in India. Whenever I visit new places, I was always pleasantly surprised by its rich and diverse culture and people’s warm hospitality. I will never forget the beautiful memories in this country. It was my privilege that I was given a chance to work in India as the two friendly nations are celebrating 70th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relations between Japan and India, and I am convinced that the relationship between the two countries will be further deepened and expanded.”
