Croatian President Ivo Josipovic and Japanese Prince Akishino said in Zagreb on Thursday evening that Croatia and Japan, though geographically far apart, were tied by friendship and mutual respect for heritage as well as by solidarity they expressed to each other in hardships.
Before a concert which the Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra gave on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relations between Japan and Croatia, Prince Akishino, the second son of the Emperor Akihito and the Empress Michiko and currently second in line to the Chrysanthemum Throne, said in his brief address that Japan was grateful to Croatia for assistance and sympathy it had offered to Japan after it had been hit by a disastrous quake and tsunami in 2011.
Although they are geographically far apart, Japan and Croatia have joint points such as the natural wealth and historical heritage, the prince said adding that many Japanese tourists were amazed by Croatia.
The number of Japanese visitors in Croatia is rising and in 2012, over 155,000 guests from that Asian country were registered.
Josipovic thanked Japan for assistance in local projects in Croatia such as removal of landmines left over from the 1991-1995 Homeland War. So far, Japan has allocated 1.8 million euros for mine clearance.
