Ambassador KITAOKA made his 2nd visit to Pärnu City, the “Summer Capital” (2nd Installment: Dinner hosted by Mr. KOROBEINIK, the Chairman of the City Council & his wife)

On 14th to 15th July, Ambassador KITAOKA made his 2nd official visit to Pärnu City!
He was accompanied by Mr. Toshifumi ITO, a Second Secretary in charge of culture and publicity.
Pärnu City is very important from the viewpoint of the Estonian-Japanese friendship, since it has signed the cooperation agreement with a Japanese city, Ichikawa in Chiba Prefecture in October in the year before last.
This agreement has led to the visit by Prime Minister (at that time), H.E. Mr. Jüri RATAS to Ichikawa during his official stay in Japan in February last year.

The Ambassador, following his visit to “Pernova Nature House”, attended the dinner hosted by Mr. Andrei KOROBEINIK, the Chairman of the City Council, and his wife at the restaurant “Mon Ami”.
The Ambassador has already had a meeting with Mr. Romek KOSENKRANIUS, the Mayor during his 1st visit to Pärnu last year, but it has become the first time for the Ambassador to meet the Chairman.
The Ambassador enjoyed a friendly conversation with the Chairman and his wife over the very tasty Estonian perch and duck together with wine.
The Ambassador said, “what is the most important to promote the exchanges between local municipalities is that both of the Mayor and the Chairman of the City Council cooperate together to promote the exchanges. This is exactly the reason why the Estonian Saku City and the Japanese Saku City have succeeded in getting to the sister-city agreement. I sincerely hope that Mr. KOROBEINIK, the Chairman, cooperating with the Mayor, would deepen the relationship with Ichikawa City”.
He also said, “concerning the on-line exchanges between Pärnu City and Ichikawa City, which are in preparation, the Japanese Embassy is ready to give its utmost support”.
The Chairman, in return, said, “my visit to Ichikawa City, scheduled to take place in April last year, has been postponed due to COVID19. But I would like to continue to strengthen the relationship with Ichikawa City including the possibility of the youth exchanges between our two cities”.
Then the Chairman briefed the Ambassador on the influence of COVID19 over the tourism for Pärnu City, which suffered the decrease of overseas visitors, but the increase of Estonian visitors is making some compensations.

Ambassador KITAOKA would like to express his sincerest gratitude to Mr. KOROBEINIK and his wife for hosting such an wonderful dinner, and to Mrs. Anu JUURMA-SAKS, the Head of PR of Pärnu City for her meticulous arrangements again following the Ambassador’s first visit last year!