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On October 10, Lithuanian foreign minister Mr Antanas Valionis and Japanese foreign minister Ms Makiko Tanaka exchanged the letters commemorating the 10th anniversary of reestablishment of Lithuanian-Japanese diplomatic relations. The head of the Lithuanian diplomacy congratulated the fact that during the recent period of ten years close and constructive relations in the most important areas of political, economic and cultural cooperation have started and developed intensively. All the highest officials of Lithuania at least twice visited Japan during the last ten years. Minister Valionis has expressed his wish and hope to continue the political dialogue in the future more intensively as well as to exchange the high level visits more actively. Summarizing the development of bilateral Lithuanian-Japanese relations, Lithuanian foreign minister emphasized the positive role of the Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus' visit to Japan in spring 2001. The visit undoubtedly gave new impetus for the bilateral trade and economic cooperation. The economic events such as business seminars during the Lithuanian President's visit in Tokyo and Osaka and the exhibition of the Baltic States' production in Tokyo in September, that were recently held mainly on the initiative of Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), are being considered in Lithuania as extremely successful, useful and promising, the minister noted. They also show the need of businessmen from both countries to cooperate and expand the business contacts, which have already started but still are not mature enough. Minister Valionis noted that positive experience of the Lithuanian-Japanese bilateral relations during the last ten years together with the cooperation in the international organizations contribute to the international community's assurance of democracy, human rights, peace and stability in the whole world. The minister has also affirmed having no doubts that the atmosphere of mutual understanding and close cultural relations formed during the last ten years, would enable to develop contacts in the areas of business, politics and tourism as well as between governmental, non-governmental organizations and academic institutions. According to the minister, the real embodiment of that spirit was the celebration of the 100th anniversary of Chiune Sugihara [the Japanese vice-consul in Kaunas who in 1939-40 issued transit visas for Jews fleeing Nazi persecution in Poland] and the festival of planting sakura alley in Vilnius the last week. The Japanese foreign minister Makiko Tanaka in her letter presented to minister Valionis by the Japanese ambassador Shohei Naito, expressed a hope that in the new century the relations between Japanese and the Lithuanian Republic will become much more closer and more developed in all the spheres - political, economic and cultural. Minister Makiko Tanaka has also wished a long lasting prosperity and happiness to all the people of Lithuania.