By Anadolu staff
Japan and Caribbean top diplomats and representatives on Saturday agreed to enhance cooperation in various sectors.
The agreement came during the 8th Japan-Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Ministerial-Level Conference in Tokyo, which was co-chaired by Japanese Foreign Minister Iwaya Takeshi along with Caribbean counterparts, according to a Japanese Foreign Ministry statement.
The conference was attended by top diplomats and high-level officials from 14 member states that comprise the Caribbean Community.
Speaking on the occasion, Foreign Minister Takeshi said that Japan has been providing support across various fields, including disaster risk reduction, maritime issues, fisheries, and aquaculture industries, to help overcome the vulnerabilities of CARICOM countries since 2014.
He expressed Japan’s intention to continue to build up new cooperation under its “Diplomatic Initiative toward Latin America and the Caribbean” in fields such as maritime issues, disaster risk reduction, climate change, and human security.
In response, the CARICOM member states expressed their appreciation for the strengthening of the relationship between Japan and their community.
Takeshi assured the Caribbean states that Tokyo would continue to cooperate with CARICOM to overcome vulnerabilities particular to small island states in fields such as the environment, including climate change, disaster risk reduction, and maritime issues, and to achieve sustainable development.
The CARICOM members also spoke on the severe impacts caused by rising sea levels and frequent natural disasters in their region due to climate change and vowed to continue close cooperation with Japan.
*Writing by Islamuddin Sajid