President Traian Basescu praises Japanese assistance during Romania's transition

Bucharest, May 20 /Agerpres/ - Romanian President Traian Basescu and his wife Maria met on Wednesday at the presidential Cotroceni Palace Japan's Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko, who are paying a four-day visit to Romania.

Basescu communicated Romania's appreciation of the generous assistance offered by the Japanese government during the transition years, the Presidential Administration said in a press release.

The Romanian leader thanked the high guests for the visit they are paying and sent the best wishes to Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko. He also recalled the visit he paid to Japan in 2005 and he thanked for the welcome made by Their Majesties on that occasion.

Prince Akishino voiced satisfaction to be visiting Romania amid the 50th anniversary of the resumption of the Romanian-Japanese diplomatic ties. He presented the Romanian president a message from Emperor Akihito in which he expresses hope that the bilateral relations of Romania and Japan will be even closer in future.

Their Imperial Highnesses showed interest in learning as many things as possible about the Romanian cultural heritage and about Romania during their visit. At the end of the meeting, President Basescu assured Their Imperial Highnesses of the special honour of hosting them in Romania and said he hoped they would enjoy their stay in the country.

Also on Wednesday, Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko met the speakers of the Senate and the Deputies' Chamber Mircea Geoana and Roberta Anastase respectively and they met professors and students of the Japanese language section of the Bucharest University's Faculty of Foreign Languages and Literatures.

On Wednesday evening, the Romanian president and his wife will give an official dinner in the Japanese guests' honour.

Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko are visiting Romania as part of a European tour to celebrate the Year of the Friendship between Japan and the Danube River Countries - Austria, Bulgaria, Hungary and Romania.

On Thursday, Their Imperial Highnesses are scheduled to visit the monastery of Sinaia and the nearby Peles castle (north of Bucharest) and on Friday - the last day of the visit - they will visit the Farming School at Branesti, near the capital and the Institute of Apiculture Research and Development.

[Source: Romanian National News Agency AGERPRES ]