Ambassador Ishikane’s Official Visit to the Province of Quebec (February 19-21, 2018)
2018/3/16
H.E. Kimihiro Ishikane, Ambassador of Japan, and his spouse, Mrs. Kaoru Ishikane, paid an official visit to the province of Quebec from February 19 to 21, 2018. Quebec is 1.54 million square kilometers in area making it about four times as big as Japan. As of 2017, the population has grown to 8.39 million people and there are approximately 2,300 Japanese-Canadians and 4,200 Japanese nationals living in Quebec. Ambassador Ishikane chose Quebec as his first official visit destination, since this year’s G7 summit under Canada’s presidency will be held in the province.
On February 20, in the capital of Quebec City, Ambassador Ishikane met with The Honourable Michel Doyon, Lieutenant Governor of Quebec; Mr. Jacques Chagnon, President of the National Assembly of Quebec; Ms. Dominique Anglade,
Deputy Premier, Minister of Economy, Science and Innovation, Minister responsible for the Digital Strategy, and Ms. Christine St-Pierre, Minister of International Relations and La Francophonie. The Ambassador also attended a luncheon hosted by Mr. Michel Lafleur, Assistant Deputy Minister, Ministry of International Relations and la Francophonie of Quebec. During the meetings, they exchanged views on how to further strengthen cooperation between Japan and Canada/Quebec on the occasion of the G7 summit and the 90th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, as well as their cultural and economic relations. In addition, Ambassador Ishikane met with Mr. Benoit Charette, Second Opposition Group critic for Transport, International Relations and La Francophonie.
On the same day, Ambassador Ishikane attended the conference on Asian economy “Japan, Korea, Vietnam and Singapore, attractive market and partner of choice”, organized at Laval University, the oldest French university in the North America. The Ambassador presented a speech titled “Japanese diplomacy in the 21st century and Japan-Canada relationship” as a guest speaker.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Ishikane visited the École oraliste de Québec school for hearing-impaired or deaf children where she enjoyed communicating and spending time with the children.
On February 21, Ambassador and his spouse visited Laval University and met with Ms. Sophie D’Amours, Rector of the university. Laval University has a strong relationship with Japan, offering Japanese language courses and having partnerships with many Japanese universities. They exchanged views on topics including academic cooperation, and students exchange between Laval University and Japanese universities. Ambassador and Madam Ishikane also attended a calligraphy lesson held at “Espace Japon”, a facility in the University library used for Japanese cultural events, and discussed with the participants.
After visiting Laval University, Ambassador Ishikane and Mrs. Ishikane visited Transition énergétique Québec (TEQ) and discussed with Ms. Johanne Gélinas, President and Chief Executive Officer of TEQ, about the cooperation between Japan and Quebec in the energy sector.
On February 20, in the capital of Quebec City, Ambassador Ishikane met with The Honourable Michel Doyon, Lieutenant Governor of Quebec; Mr. Jacques Chagnon, President of the National Assembly of Quebec; Ms. Dominique Anglade,
Deputy Premier, Minister of Economy, Science and Innovation, Minister responsible for the Digital Strategy, and Ms. Christine St-Pierre, Minister of International Relations and La Francophonie. The Ambassador also attended a luncheon hosted by Mr. Michel Lafleur, Assistant Deputy Minister, Ministry of International Relations and la Francophonie of Quebec. During the meetings, they exchanged views on how to further strengthen cooperation between Japan and Canada/Quebec on the occasion of the G7 summit and the 90th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, as well as their cultural and economic relations. In addition, Ambassador Ishikane met with Mr. Benoit Charette, Second Opposition Group critic for Transport, International Relations and La Francophonie.
On the same day, Ambassador Ishikane attended the conference on Asian economy “Japan, Korea, Vietnam and Singapore, attractive market and partner of choice”, organized at Laval University, the oldest French university in the North America. The Ambassador presented a speech titled “Japanese diplomacy in the 21st century and Japan-Canada relationship” as a guest speaker.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Ishikane visited the École oraliste de Québec school for hearing-impaired or deaf children where she enjoyed communicating and spending time with the children.
On February 21, Ambassador and his spouse visited Laval University and met with Ms. Sophie D’Amours, Rector of the university. Laval University has a strong relationship with Japan, offering Japanese language courses and having partnerships with many Japanese universities. They exchanged views on topics including academic cooperation, and students exchange between Laval University and Japanese universities. Ambassador and Madam Ishikane also attended a calligraphy lesson held at “Espace Japon”, a facility in the University library used for Japanese cultural events, and discussed with the participants.
After visiting Laval University, Ambassador Ishikane and Mrs. Ishikane visited Transition énergétique Québec (TEQ) and discussed with Ms. Johanne Gélinas, President and Chief Executive Officer of TEQ, about the cooperation between Japan and Quebec in the energy sector.
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| Ambassador Ishikane and Mrs. Ishikane With Lieutenant Governor Doyon |
With Mr. Jacques Chagnon, President of the National Assembly of Quebec |
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| Visiting the National Assembly of Quebec with Consul General Kuramitsu |
With Ms. Anglade, Deputy Premier, Minister of Economy, Science and Innovation, Minister responsible for the Digital Strategy |
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| With Ms. Christine St-Pierre, Minister of International Relations and La Francophonie |
Ambassador Ishikane’s speech at Laval University |
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| With Ms. Sophie d’Amour, Rector of Laval university |
Calligraphy demonstration at Espace Japon |
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| Calligraphy lesson |
Discussion with Ms. Johanne Gelinas, President of Transition énergétique Quebec |