Parliamentary Vice-Minister Takahashi’s Visit to Malaysia and Hong Kong （May 1-May 4, 2024）

Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Takahashi made an official visit to Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur) and Hong Kong from Wednesday, May 1 to Saturday, May 4. In Malaysia, he met with YB Datuk Arthur Joseph Kurup, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, and attended the launch ceremony of the Japan Food Export Platform. In Hong Kong, he met with Mr. Tse Chin-wan, Secretary for Environment and Ecology of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR).

1. Visit to Malaysia

Parliamentary Vice-Minister Takahashi attended the ceremony to celebrate the launch of the Japan Food Export Platform in Malaysia and exchanged views with invited Malaysian government officials and local food-related businesses. He also met with YB Datuk Arthur Joseph Kurup, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, and requested cooperation in promoting the “ASEAN-Japan MIDORI Cooperation Plan” and introduced Japan's efforts to expand exports of Japanese agricultural, forestry, and fishery products and food. In addition, he visited retail stores selling Japanese food products and exchanged opinions.

Ceremony of launch of the Japan Food Export Platform

Meeting with Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Security

Visit to food retail stores

2. Visit to Hong Kong

Parliamentary Vice-Minister Takahashi held a meeting with Mr. Tse Chin-wan, Secretary for Environment and Ecology of the Government of the HKSAR. Regarding the import control measures currently imposed by the Hong Kong against Japanese agricultural, forestry and fishery products and food following the accident at TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station in 2011, as well as the discharge of the ALPS treated water into the sea in 2023, he demanded Mr. Tse Chin-wan to immediately lift the control measures which are not based on scientific evidence. Both sides confirmed that both governments would continue dialogue s. In addition, he visited distribution warehouses and retail stores handling Japanese agricultural, forestry, and fishery products and food and exchanged opinions with local businesses.

Meeting with Mr. Tse Chin-wan, Secretary for Environment and Ecology of the Government of the HKSAR

Visit to distribution warehouses