Japan’s Crown Prince and Princess Akishino, who are on a goodwill visit to Turkey, have attended a ceremony marking the 100th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
The event took place at a hall in the center of Turkey’s largest city of Istanbul on Thursday evening. About 380 people from both countries attended.
The Republic of Turkey was founded in 1923. Diplomatic relations between Japan and Turkey were established in 1924, when the Treaty of Lausanne that officially concluded World War One took effect.
At the ceremony, Crown Prince Akishino delivered a speech following remarks by Turkey’s youth and sports minister.
The Crown Prince highlighted the history of Japan and Turkey not only engaging in ordinary exchanges but also supporting each other during difficult times, referring to a Turkish proverb that says a friend is known on a dark day.
He expressed hope that bilateral ties will grow even stronger and deeper in the future.
The ceremony was followed by performances by Turkey’s national folk dance troupe and a Japanese taiko drumming group. The Crown Prince and Princess applauded as cheers broke out after each performance.
