2017.25.05 Mr. Hamdard Attends the Africa Day Reception

Mr. Hamdard Attends the Africa Day Reception

May 25, 2017: Mr. Basir Ahmad Hamdard, First Secretary and Political Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, had the honour and pleasure of attending the Africa Day Reception in commemoration of the creation of the Organisation of African Unity, held at Sophia University, Tokyo.

During the Africa Day celebration, His Excellency Mr. Kentaro Sonoura, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Japan, pledged, on the behalf of Japanese Government and Japanese private sector, to tighten relationship between Japan and Africa and pledged to invest $30 billion.

Mr. Hamdard had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Yoshiaki Terumachi, President of Sophia University, whom suggested taking in students for the PEACE program. Mr. Hamdard thanked Dr. Terumachi for his wonderful suggestion and hopes for further collaborations.

Also, in attendance was His Excellency Mr. Estifanos Habtemariam, Ambassador of the State of Eritrea to Japan, His Excellency Mr. Yoshihiro Seki, State Minister of the Environment Japan, Honourable Mr. Hiroshi Kato, Senior Vice President of JICA, Honourable Mr. Tsuyoshi Kusama, Local Representative for Japan Liberal Democratic Party and the Director General of the Japan Africa Friendship League of Yokohama City Council, and Mr. Hirofumi Sato, Chairperson of the Japan Africa Friendship League of Yokohama City Council, whom Mr. Hamdard discussed many topics of mutual interest.

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2017.17.05 Mr. Hamdard Attends an International Symposium about the “Future of Power Business with Interconnections in Asia”

Mr. Hamdard Attends an International Symposium about the “Future of Power Business with Interconnections in Asia”

May 17, 2017: Mr. Basir Ahmad Hamdard, First Secretary and Political Affairs of the Embassy of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, had the pleasure of attending the international symposium about the “future of power business with interconnections in Asia” held by the Renewable Energy Institute in Tokyo.

The symposium was about the prospective of having international grid connections in Northeast Asia. The Asia International Grid Connection Study Group investigated and researched Europe’s grid connections to indicate the feasibility of grid connections in Northeast Asia.

Mr. Hamdard had the pleasure of talking to Mr. Bert Maes, Co-CEO of Nemo Link and CEO of Eurogrid International, and Mr. Ryuichi Yokoyama, Professor Emeritus of Waseda University, about the feasibility of interconnectivity in Central Asia and how it could increase diplomatic relations and reduce tensions. Also in attendance were several of Their Excellencies, Heads of Missions, and Diplomats with missions in Japan, members of parliament, leading businesspeople, and other dignified guests, several of whom Mr. Hamdard met with and discussed many topics of mutual interest.

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2017.17.05 Mr. Agah Attends the “Japan Cultural Envoy” Ceremony

Mr. Agah Attends the “Japan Cultural Envoy” Ceremony

May 17, 2017: Mr. Asif Agah, Second Secretary and Cultural Affairs Officer of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in Japan, and Ms. Erina Kondo from the Internship Program, attended the “Japan Cultural Envoy” ceremony hosted by the Agency for Cultural Affairs of the Ministry of Education, Cultural, Sport, Science and Technology of Japan (MEXT).

The “Japan Cultural Envoy” is to send Japanese artists and cultural figures to different countries, with the aim of deepening the international community’s understanding towards Japanese cultural. Also, the “Japan Cultural Envoy” helps shape and strengthen networks with people around the world engaged in the cultural arena. In the ceremony, five “Japan Cultural Envoys” were introduced, they were elected to visit certain countries to perform different cultural activities, in order to promote Japanese culture abroad.

At the ceremony, Mr. Agah had the opportunity to meet Honourable Mr. Ryohei Miyata, commissioner of Agency for Cultural Affairs of Japan, and to sincerely congratulate Honourable Mr. Miyata on the initiation of the cultural program, and kindly requested the consideration of Afghanistan as a host country of the Japan Cultural Envoy. Mr. Agah further elaborated the strong relations between Afghanistan and Japan, and that the people of Afghanistan has a strong interest in Japanese culture. In return, Honourable Mr. Miyata sincerely thanked Mr. Agah for his attendance and sincerely appreciated Mr. Agah’s strong passion for the continued relations between Afghanistan and Japan. Also, as a two-time visitor to Afghanistan, Honourable Mr. Miyata emphasised the importance of the relationship and has a strong consideration of sending a Japan Cultural Envoy to Afghanistan.

Mr. Agah also had the pleasure of meeting and talking to the famous shamisen player and recently appointed Japan Cultural Envoy, Mr. Hidejiro Honjoh. Mr. Agah, first congratulated Mr. Honjoh on his appointment as a Japan Cultural Envoy and talked about the similarities between the shamisen and the Afghan Dambora. Mr. Agah strongly hopes that Mr. Honjoh obtains an opportunity to visit Afghanistan and to discover the musical similarities between the two countries.

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2017.17.05 Mr. Hamdard Attends the Mourning of the Shanti Volunteer Association’s Former President

Mr. Hamdard Attends the Mourning of the Shanti Volunteer Association’s Former President

May 17, 2017: Mr. Hamdard, First Secretary and Political Affairs of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, and a former Shanti Volunteer Association (SVA) Trainer Teacher, offered his condolences to the Chief Executive Director of SVA, Mr. Wako Okamoto and his staff for the passing away of the former President, Mr. Nendo Matsunaga.

Under Mr. Matsunaga, the SVA had constructed many libraries, taught prospective Afghan teachers, and supported many Afghan craftspeople. With the generosity and hard work of Mr. Matsunaga and his team, the SVA plays a key role in the development of Afghanistan’s education sector since the fall of the Taliban in 2001.

Mr. Hamdard had the honour of meeting Mr. Kyoei Wakabayashi, President of the SVA, and offered his sincerest condolences to the passing of Mr. Matsunaga, and offered his best wishes. Mr. Wakabayshi, sincerely thanked Mr. Hamdard for his attendance and condolences, and hopes to continue the strong stance in helping the development of Afghanistan.

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2017.10.05 Mr. Hamdard Attends Mr. Hashimi’s Japanese Language Program Graduation Ceremony

Mr. Hamdard Attends Mr. Hashimi’s Japanese Language Program Graduation Ceremony

May 10, 2017: Mr. Basir Ahmad Hamdard, First Secretary and Political Affairs for the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in Japan, attended the graduation ceremony for the Japan Foundation Japanese-Language Institute in Kansai hosted by the Japan Foundation Executive Director, Mr. Osamu Akagi, to congratulate Mr. Abdu Hameed Hashimi, Afghan Diplomat with MOFA Afghanistan, for his completion of the 8-month Japanese Language Program.

The Japan Foundation Japanese-Language Institution is an important program intended for young foreign-service officers and public officials to enhance their abilities in the Japanese language. The advantage of this program is the increased relations between Japan and the countries who send young foreign-service officers and public officials to study the Japanese-language. In the past, five Afghan officials from MOFA have taken part in this program including Mr. Hamdard.

Mr. Hamdard sincerely congratulated Mr. Hashimi on his graduation and his efforts in the program. In return, Mr. Hashimi sincerely thanked Mr. Hamdard for honouring his graduation ceremony. Mr. Hamdard also had the pleasure of meeting and speaking with Mr. Masahiro Oji, Councillor to the President of the Japan Foundation, and thanked him not only for the fine event, but also for their great program which has opened up wonderful prospects and opportunities for Afghans to learn about Japan and its language. He also met with Mr. Masato Ohtaka, Deputy Press Secretary at MOFA Japan to whom he extended his thanks for Japan’s enduring and strong support of Afghanistan in so many venues to help promote peace and develop the human capacity.

Of particular enjoyment for Mr. Hamdard was having the chance to meet again with his teachers who had supervised his time in the program. He thanked them for all their hard work and effort which helped effectively prepare him for his current position in Japan.

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2017.04.05 Attendance at the 50th ADB Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors in Yokohama

Attendance at the 50th ADB Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors in Yokohama

May 4-7, 2017: It was an honor for the Kabul Delegation including H.E. Dr. Mohammad Mustafa Mastoor, Deputy Minister for Finance & Senior Advisor and Special Representative to H.E. the Chief Executive of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan; Dr. Bashir Mohabbat, Chargé d’Affaires ad interim; Mr. Bashir Hamdard, First Secretary; and Mr. Asif Agah, Second Secretary- representing the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in Japan-; and Mr. Abdul Qahar Khan Momand, Program Coordination Office and Aid Management Directorate for Ministry of Finance of Afghanistan; to attend the 50th Annual Meeting of the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) Board of Governors. The event, hosted by the people and Government of Japan, through the Ministry of Finance of Japan, chaired for the ADB by President Mr. Takehiko Nakao was held on 4–7 May 2017 at the Pacifico Yokohama in Yokohama, Japan, and was themed “Building Together the Prosperity of Asia.”

Starting with the first Meeting in Tokyo following the ADB’s founding in 1966, the ADB Annual Meeting has been held in Japan every 10 years. This year’s event took place over the course of four days during the host country Japan’s Golden Week. It was attended by approximately 6,000 persons, including finance ministers from each representative country, central bank presidents, private-sector financial institution representatives, NGO representatives, members of the press and other distinguished guests and included presentations on loans, collaborative development projects and so forth by representatives from each country; business sessions; bilateral meetings; official reception events; various seminars and symposia; etc. In his opening remarks, president of the ADB, Mr. Takehiko Nakao welcomed all present for the important events and hoped that much leeway would be made over the next few days. His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince of Japan, Naruhito gave an address during the Opening Session of the Board of Governors.

At both the SAARC Informal Finance Ministers’ Meeting and at the First Business Session, H.E. Deputy Minister Dr. Mastoor gave remarks. He thanked not only the host country but also the ADB for its assistance in Afghan development over the years to help further Afghanistan along to becoming an accountable, functioning, and increasingly sustainable state. He additionally thanked the international development partners who pledged continued support to Afghanistan at the Warsaw and Brussels conferences. He noted the developments made in the private sector, regional projects’ faster implementation, and CAREC strategy review, asking those present and the ADB to further support the above areas.

Over the course of the event, H.E. Deputy Minister Dr. Mastoor, Dr. Mohabbat, Mr. Hamdard, Mr. Agah, and Mr. Momand attended several presentations, lectures, and bilateral meetings with JICA, the United States of America, the European Union, Pakistan, India, the United Kingdom, the President of ADB Mr. Nakao, the Parliamentary Vice Minister for Finance of Japan H.E. Mr. Toru Miki, Governor of the Bank of Japan and former President of the ADB Mr. Haruhiko Kuroda, as well as several other representatives from different departments of the ADB. Proper diplomatic greetings were exchanged and many topics of mutual interest were discussed in all of the bilateral meetings.

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