A trip to Japan at this time? what for?

President Mori and PM Abe during bilateral meeting -- October 31, 2013

Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) President Manny Mori arrived Tokyo on October 29 for the 25th anniversary celebration of the establishment of diplomatic relation with Japan. With him are Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Lorin Robert; Secretary of Resources and Development, Mr. Marion Henry; Secretary of Justice, Ms. April Dawn Skilling, Chief of Staff, Mr. Leo Falcam Jr.; FSM Ambassador to Japan, Mr. John Fritz; the Special Assistant to the President on Public Information, Mr. Marz Akapito; and Mr. Kunio Suenaga, FSM Embassy staff member.

A delegation from the FSM Congress came in for the same purpose, showing the level of importance the FSM National Government attaches to the celebration of the "very strong kizuna" (special relationship) with Japan. Speaker Dohsis Halbert heads this delegation which includes Vice Speaker Paliknoa K. Welly;

FSM President Mori and FSM Speaker Halbert meet

Senator Yosiwo George, Chairman of the Committee on External Affairs; Senator Wesly W. Simina, Chairman of the Committee on Judiciary and Governmental Operation; Senator Peter Christian, Chairman of the Committee on Transportation and Communication; Senator Berney Martin, Vice Chairman of the Committee on External Affairs; and Mr. Lam Tang, Legal Counsel.

The Tokyo-based FSM team, under the lead of Ambassador Fritz, has been very active in organizing events the past few months leading up to the main event, scheduled for November 1st.

The event is strategically scheduled to sensationalize the FSM Independence Day annual commemoration and the FSM-Japan 25th anniversary celebration of the establishment of diplomatic ties through added critical festive events for investment promotions and the invigoration of mutual partnership commitments.

It also happened that the Ministerial level meeting for Pacific Island Countries coordinated by Japan took place about a week ago, pulling in Secretary Robert and Chief of Staff Falcam into Japan ahead of others.

During the past couple of days, the President attended to the following interactions:

1. Morning of October 30th, meeting with the owner of Softbank, Son, to progress earlier discussions on probable engagements. Softbank representatives were in the FSM about two months ago. They also took part in the FSM State and National Leadership Conference last year as topic session presenters, focusing on alternative renewable energy.

2. Dinner meeting with Dr. Kobayashi, who is the Advisor to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Pacific Relations. Dr. Kobayashi is a scholar who has written extensively on Pacific matters.

3. Courtesy call by the Association for the Promotion of International Cooperation (APIC). Seven representatives of the group met with President Mori at his hotel. These are high ranking business executives

APIC representatives with President Mori at Royal Park Hotel

and former Ambassadors who have direct socio-economic engagements and business venture interests in the FSM. There were represetatives from the Sasakawa Foundations, Sophia University, Mabuchi Construction and Taiyo Micronesia Corporation.

4. Bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, discussing matters of mutual concerns and interests between Japan and the FSM. The Prime Minister also hosted a "working dinner" for President Mori and his delegation.

The 25th Anniversary celebration function will take place on the 1st of November at the Royal Park Hotel. Coincidentally, the hotel is also celebrating its 25th year anniversary.