On 4 February 2013, Ambassador Tsuneo Nishida, Permanent Representative of the Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations, hosted a dinner for Ambassadors of Caribbean Community (CARICOM) members and the participants of the 2013 Young Diplomats Invitation Program for CARICOM Member States at his residence. The Young Diplomats Invitation Program participants from Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Dominíca, Haiti, Jamaica, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines enjoyed a Japanese buffet dinner with Permanent and Deputy Permanent Representatives from CARICOM states.

       Ambassador Nishida welcomed the guests with a speech on the importance of Japan-CARICOM partnerships on a wide range of global issues such as providing humanitarian assistance, cooperation in the areas of sustainable development and climate change. In addition, he explained about the Japanese position on and necessity of Security Council Reform.

       Ms. Janelle Kinique Adams, a young diplomat from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, also made remarks, thanking the Government of Japan for the opportunity to participate in the program.  The participants enjoyed lively and intellectual discussions about the program with each other throughout the evening. At the closing of the dinner, all participants sang a song of friendship.

       The program took the young diplomats to Japan to attend various lectures on Japan-CARICOM relations in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Japan International Cooperation Agency, the Ministry of Environment, etc. The participants were briefed on issues ranging from nuclear energy, maritime resources, climate change, and UN reform. They also had the opportunity to visit Hiroshima, as well as Kyoto and experience Japanese culture and history.

       The Young Diplomats Invitation Program for CARICOM Member States is sponsored by the Government of Japan and has been established since 2006.