Ambassador has priority task

Press, 27 November 1982, Page 12

Ambassador has priority task

The Japanese Ambassadordesignate to New Zealand, Mr Terubi Akiyama, sees a need to “create new devices” to enlarge cultural exchange programmes between Japan and New Zealand as a priority task when he succeeds the present Ambassador, Mr Takashi Oyamada, at the beginning of next month. “It is most important for New Zealand and Japan to increase the flow of people from each country to the other,” he said in an interview. “Unless we get to know each other well, nothing will be achieved.” Current economic conditions were not conductive to solving trade problems. “When the, economy . is going down it is hard to

maintain stable trade channels. However, even in times of recession, cargo should flow, although there are difficulties in agricultural trade,” Mr Akiyama said. “A bumper crop in Japan sometimes means we cannot buy (foreign produce),” he said. Mr Akiyama. aged 61, is an economic specialist and keen Soviet observer who has close ties with Japan’s Imperial Family. A veteran diplomat of 30 years, he is at present director-general of the Foreign Ministry Minister’s Secretariat. He has held postings in Kenya, Tanzania, Ghana, Nigeria, China and Burma, and was ambassador to Mongolia for three"years.