The Japan-Malawi friendship boasts of more than 50 years of development cooperation. Suffice to say, many Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JOCV) have been dispatched to Malawi and there are traces of the activities of the Japanese people throughout the country. It is actually quite common to hear community members say they know a Japanese person or are friends with a Japanese person. There are also many high-ranking Malawi Government officials who are former students of the JOCV. The deep relationship between Malawi and Japan can be seen everywhere. I therefore look forward to working with the Government and people of Malawi in the various sectors to maintain the good bilateral relations between Japan and Malawi, with a view to consolidating mutual development. I also wish to engage in diplomatic activities that will help to build a peaceful world.