The Japanese Embassy in Libya hosted a reception on Thursday evening to celebrate the birthday of Emperor Naruhito, marking the first National Day reception in Libya since 2010.
According to an official statement from the Japanese Embassy, the event welcomed “priceless friends and supporters of Libya-Japan relations, including Abdullah Al-Lafi, Deputy Head of the Presidential Council, along with high-ranking officials, ambassadors, and distinguished guests.”
During his speech, Japanese Ambassador Shimura Izuru expressed deep appreciation for the warm cooperation and support extended to him and the embassy since its reopening in February 2024. He highlighted the significant progress made in Libya-Japan relations over the past year and expressed optimism for further strengthening bilateral ties to ensure a better future for Libya and its people.
From the Libyan side, Abdullah Al-Lafi reaffirmed Libya’s commitment to enhancing cooperation with Japan in a way that serves the mutual interests of both nations.
The reception underscored Japan’s renewed engagement with Libya, following years of diplomatic inactivity due to security concerns. Tokyo has shown increasing interest in economic and infrastructure cooperation, particularly in energy, reconstruction, and technology sectors.
Japan was previously involved in major development projects in Libya, and its government has indicated willingness to expand cooperation as Libya continues its post-conflict recovery. Observers see this diplomatic initiative as a positive step towards deeper economic and political collaboration between the two nations.
