| The year 2009 is an illustrious one in the history of Hungarian-Japanese relations given the 140 years since the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy and the Japanese Empire signed a trade and shipping agreement in Tokyo in 1869 and, 50 years ago in 1959 the two countries re-established diplomatic relations which were broken off at the end of WWII.  These two anniversaries do not just provide a glance back to, and a celebration of, the past, but also the opportunity to consider the future of bilateral relations – FM Balázs said at the reception given for this occasion by the Foreign Ministry.
Personalities who have played an important role in bilateral relations were present at the event, among them members of the Hungary-Japan Jubilee Year preparatory committee, diplomats, the leaders of Japanese companies operating in Hungary, representatives of the Hungary-Japan and Japan-Hungary Friendship Society, as well as important players in science, education and cultural relations. The Foreign Minister in his speech recalled several elements in the history of relations, emphasising that the two countries, from the very beginning, had shown a lively interest in one another’s cultures; perhaps due to their common Asian origins, or perhaps because of the distant connection between the two languages. He added that the past twenty years have seen especially fast-developing relations, which were crowned by the visit of Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress Akihito to Hungary in 2002. From among the Jubilee programmes, Mr Balázs mentioned first the decorative lighting on Elizabeth Bridge realised with Hungarian-Japanese cooperation, stating that one of our capital’s most beautiful bridges henceforth would not only connect the sides, Buda and Pest but Hungary and Japan in a manner worthy of the two nations’ friendship. Ever since the change in political system, economic relations have developed at a fast clip, the foreign minister said, adding that we would like Hungary to become a regional centre for Japan.  Yohei Kono, the former Speaker of the Diet and Chairman of the Hungary-Japan Friendship Society and the Jubilee Year Japanese Preparatory Committee, stressed that Hungary, as far as Japan is concerned, is a centre of especial importance in the region and a gateway to Europe. He spoke of Hungarians’ love of their country, their desire for freedom and their achievements in intellectual and scientific life. He promised that, while he had withdrawn from the political sphere recently, he would not give up his post as Chairman of the Hungary-Japan Friendship Society for twenty-five years until he had found a worthy successor. He recalled the past quarter of a century as a period of spurting growth in bilateral relations.
(November 18, 2009)
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