Naga-Japan partnership: From cloud of conflict to peace

May 9, 2024 5 Views No Comment

Our Correspondent
Kohima | May 9

Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio today said that Nagas have always felt a very close connection to the Japanese people. “In recent times, we are witnessing the increasing influence of Japanese culture in our society especially among the youth,” Rio said while addressing the soft inauguration programme of Kohima Peace Memorial & Eco-Park in Kohima on May 8.

The inauguration of Kohima Peace Memorial and laying of foundation stone for Eco-Park was made by Suzuki Hiroshi, Ambassador of Japan to India.

“Today is a very important milestone in the narrative of Naga-Japan partnership, as ours was an association that started under the cloud of conflict but has today matured into one advocating peace and brotherhood of humanity, and this message is embodied by the Kohima Peace Memorial which we are inaugurating today and the Eco Park for which the foundation stone is being laid,” Rio said.

Rio said that Nagaland’s close association with Japan started almost five decades ago through the Japan Association for the Recovery and Repatriation of War Casualties, an association that continues even to this day.

“This association has now matured into bi-lateral cooperation with Japan under which we have two ongoing Externally Aided Projects in the forestry and medical sectors respectively,” Rio said.

On the cultural front, Rio said, a programme called the GENESIS programme is under implementation through which the youths of Nagaland get the opportunity to experience the rich culture of Japan.

Rio felt that it will play a vital role in strengthening the ties between us and pave way for more meaningful partnerships in the future.”

Nagaland sees itself at the forefront of the Government of India’s Act East policy and in gearing towards this role the state has entered a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a Centre of Excellence for Foreign Languages where the first comprehensive language programme offered is the Japanese language, he said.

The Chief Minister assured Suzuki Hiroshi that “we will take every possible step to ensure best practices and transparent standards in carrying out the projects.” We have undertaken several measures and have put in place systems to improve “ease of doing business” in the state.

“Today’s inauguration of the Kohima Peace Memorial and the ceremony of laying Foundation Stone for the Eco- Park is the expression of our commitment to forge stronger ties between our two peoples, Rio said and thanked the Government of Japan, JICA and others for their pro-active engagement and co-operation with the state of Nagaland.