“At the end of year 2020”

　    For safety and security of approximately 1.700 Japanese nationals in Denmark, the Embassy of Japan has attached the utmost importance to dissemination of information on the measures by the Kingdom of Denmark, international flight schedules for those who wanted to return home as well as the related consular works. We are grateful for the words of appreciation we heard from time to time. As the situation keeps changing day by day, the Embassy would remain attentive to any further requests and comments to improve the quality of our services.

　    I am always thankful to my colleagues and friends in Denmark for staying with us in a spirit of solidarity and perseverance as well as the speedy and sufficient sharing of the COVID-19 related information. I have enjoyed mingling with my neighbors while keeping certain social distances, and the precious opportunities to exchange views together with Danish colleagues from the government, Folketing, the courts, business circles, culture, sports, press and educational institutions. I have been particularly fortunate for being associated with parts of the longtime sister and friendship cities exchanges. Through all these contacts, I have been enlightened and so much encouraged to carry on. This has turned into an indispensable underpinning to the essential mission of the Embassy to ensure safety and security of the Japanese nationals in Denmark.

　    Looking back 2020, the year began with the New Year’s reception for the diplomatic corps by Her Majesty the Queen. From January to February, we received a series of important visitors. Since March, Denmark and Japan have switched the mode of communications by making good use of virtual methods. The telephone conversation between Mr. MOTEGI Toshimitsu, Foreign Minister of Japan and Mr. Jeppe KOFOD of Denmark in August was a symbolic case of such a new way of communication. Both countries have continued the efforts to strengthen the strategic partnership to promote “Free and Open Indo Pacific”, cooperation for climate change with Japan’s target to decarbonize the society by 2050 and Danish objective to reduce GHG for 70% by 2030, further trade and investment with Japan EU Economic Partnership Agreement, person to person exchanges including culture and sports, joint efforts to tackle COVID-19 among others. Another modest but a new and sincere attempt between the Embassies in Tokyo and Copenhagen since the outbreak of COVID-19 is the weekly telephone talks between Ambassador Peter Taksøe-Jensen and me, reaffirming each other’s positions to deepen the bilateral cooperation.
 

　    Further restrictions against COVID-19 are imposed from December to January in Denmark. While development of vaccines proceeds, I wish that we can together get out of this long tunnel and further deepen our friendship and goodwill relations in 2021. If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind? I wish you a happy New Year.