Japanese PM Shinzō Abe told Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili at a meeting in Tokyo on October 24 that the two countries are “friends, which share fundamental values.”

“Furthermore the both countries are making tremendous efforts for peace and stability,” PM Abe said and praised Georgia’s “contribution to the international peace.”

The Japanese PM also said that the two countries should “play together even more pro-active role for the international peace and stability.”
 
After the meeting the Japanese PM and the Georgian President signed a “joint statement on solidarity for peace and democracy.”

PM Abe reiterated Japan’s support towards Georgian territorial integrity and also said that Georgia’s “dialogue with Russia is highly appreciated.”
 
“We appreciate favorable business environment of Georgia, which is advancing on the path of integration of its market with Europe,” the Japanese PM said.
 
President Margvelashvili said that Georgia “applauds and supports” Japan’s efforts to increase its role on the international stage, because “Japan is one of the strongest democracies in the world and democracies should speak out more strongly on the international stage.”

President Margvelashvili asked Japan to refer to his country in Japanese as “Georgia” instead of Russian pronunciation “Gruzya” – an issue, which Georgia has raised years ago.

“During the talks I received the President’s request for change of the name of his country in Japanese. Our government decided to study this along the direction of changing from Gruzya to Georgia,” PM Abe said after the meeting.

Also on October 24 President Margvelashvili and first lady Maka Chichua were received by Japan’s Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko.

During his official visit to Japan President Margvelashvili also met Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida; Agriculture Minister Koya Nishikawa; speaker of Japan’s lower house of parliament Bunmei Ibuki.

President Margvelashvili, accompanied by a group of lawmakers from ruling GD coalition, also met representatives of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party.

According to the Georgian President’s office, Russia’s “unconstructive” policy and continuing “occupation” of Georgia’s territories by Russia, as well as Moscow’s recent attempts to “annex” Abkhazia through its proposed new treaty with the breakaway region were high on agenda of President Margvelashvili’s discussions with the Japanese officials.

The Georgian President also held meeting with president of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and representatives of the Japan Association for Trade with Russia and Newly Independent States (ROTOBO) and Japan Association of Corporate Executives.