Message from Consul General Ito

 

Greetings.

 

It is already December, which is the time of the year when people are quite busy with Christmas events and year-end parties.  This is my 3rd winter in British Columbia.

 

Our office hosted the Emperor’s Birthday Reception on December 2nd. It was a very successful event with distinguished guests that included Premier Clark, former Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada, Mr. Emerson, BC cabinet ministers, MLAs, a mayor and councillors attending.  I gave an update on the recovery efforts from the Great East Japan Earthquake and thanked the people of Canada for their support.  I hope all our guests enjoyed the reception.

 

I’m confident that Premier Clark’s attendance at the reception indicates her strong expectation for the growth of economic relations with Japan. In her greeting, the premier referred to her grandfather’s trip to Japan in 1954 as a member of the Vancouver Board of Trade and she said that she would visit Japan in the spring.

 

There is no question that natural resources and foodstuff from Canada play significant roles in Japan’s recovery from the disaster and in the rebuilding of its economy.  As well, there isn’t any question that Japan will be an important partner of British Columbia in implementing its new jobs plan. I expect that there will be further development of the mutually beneficial relationship between this Province and Japan.

 

In this eventful season please take a good care of yourself.

 

Happy holidays and best wishes for a new year!

 

 

 

Hideki Ito
Consul General
December 13, 2011