Bahamas seek to strengthen bilateral ties with Japan

Bahamas Finance Minister K. Peter Turnquest Monday held talks with Japanese Foreign Affairs Minister, Taro Kono, seeking to strengthen their bilateral relationship between both the countries.

A statement issued following the 15-minute discussions, noted that Kono had informed Turnquest, who is on his first official visit to the Asian country, on the need “to further strengthen bilateral and Japan-CARICOM relationships”.

Turnquest is quoted at expressing appreciation for “the long-standing cooperation with Japan, and that we would hope to strengthen ties with Japan to open the Maritime Office and start exchanging tax information automatically”.

The statement said that the two ministers exchanged views regarding cooperation in the international arena on issues such as North Korea, and shared the view on deepening their cooperative relationship.

It said that prior to the meeting, the two ministers exchanged notes regarding the entry into force of the Protocol Amending the Japan-Bahamas Tax Information Exchange Agreement.