In a formal ceremony held Tuesday, April 28, 2026, at Port-au-Prince’s Montana Hotel, Haiti’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs gathered senior diplomatic leaders from both Haiti and Japan to commemorate the 70th platinum jubilee of bilateral diplomatic relations between the two nations. The event was attended by Haiti’s Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, Haitian Foreign Minister Raina Forbin, and Kazuhiko Nishiuchi, Japan’s Ambassador to Port-au-Prince, with Haiti’s Ambassador to Japan Louis Harold Joseph joining via remote video address.
Opening official remarks, Prime Minister Fils-Aimé honored the deep, durable foundation of Haitian-Japanese ties, which have been rooted in shared principles of mutual respect and collaborative partnership since the two countries formally reestablished diplomatic relations in 1956. The prime minister reaffirmed the Haitian government’s commitment to expanding ties across political, economic, and cultural domains, calling for greater coordinated action from both nations’ private sectors to develop impactful public-private partnerships that unlock underutilized cooperation opportunities.
Minister Forbin followed, emphasizing the high quality of bilateral collaboration, particularly amid Haiti’s ongoing efforts to restore national security. She stressed that future cooperation should remain centered on inclusive development, technological innovation, and institutional capacity building, urging a more dynamic bilateral agenda that aligns with the legitimate aspirations of both Haitian and Japanese people, while contributing to broader stability across the Caribbean region and the global stage.
In his remote address, Ambassador Joseph framed the seven-decade diplomatic relationship as a model of constructive partnership between two nations separated by vast geographic distance, bound together by consistent mutual respect. He expressed profound gratitude from the Haitian people for Japan’s long-running, unwavering support across key development sectors including public education, healthcare, and national infrastructure. He also called for expanded cultural and economic exchange, noting that the platinum jubilee is not a milestone to cap the relationship, but a starting point for a new chapter of deepened strategic partnership between the two countries. Ambassador Joseph closed by reaffirming Haiti’s commitment to working alongside Japan to advance shared goals of regional and global stability.
Japanese Ambassador Nishiuchi echoed these remarks, reiterating Japan’s steadfast commitment to Haiti and its determination to continue supporting the country’s ongoing stabilization efforts and long-term sustainable development.
Beyond official addresses, the ceremony delivered a tangible step forward in bilateral cooperation: on the event’s sidelines, Minister Forbin and Toshimitsu Motegi, representing Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, signed a new Memorandum of Understanding focused on diplomatic training. According to a statement from Haiti’s Prime Minister’s Office, the agreement formalizes both nations’ shared commitment to strengthening institutional capacity and expanding high-level bilateral dialogue between their diplomatic teams.