Japanese Communist Party Central Committee Chair Fuwa Tetsuzo, leading a JCP delegation to Tunisia, attended the 4th Congress of the Constitutional Democratic Rally (RCD) from July 28-31.
He attended a reception given by Tunisian President Zine Al Abidine Ben Ali on July 28 and presented him with the JCP's message to the RCD Congress. (See separate item)
The Congress was attended by about 3,000 delegates and 190 guests from 80 countries.
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Fuwa arrived in Tunis, the capital of Tunisia, on July 27 to attend the Congress of the Constitutional Democratic Rally (Rassemblement Constitutionnel Democratique), Tunisia's governing party. The RCD is led by President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. The Congress is held from July 28-30.
At the airport in Tunis, Fuwa was welcomed by Abdelwahab Djemal, the RCD deputy secretary general in charge of the youth section, and Mohamed Antar, Tunisia's Foreign Ministry Asian Department deputy chief and the Tunisia-Japan Friendship Association deputy head.
On the same day, Fuwa attended a dinner party held by the RCD and met Tunisian Foreign Minister Habib Ben Yahia, whom he had talks with in Tokyo in October 2000. Thanking Fuwa for visiting Tunisia all the way from Japan, the foreign minister expressed his warm welcome to Fuwa.
The JCP chair also talked with representatives of other countries including China, Germany, and Jordan.
Fuwa is accompanied by Ogata Yasuo, JCP Standing Executive Committee member, and Intentional Department director, and a member of the House of Councilors; and Morihara Kimitoshi, member of the Presidium and the Secretariat, International Department vice director.
Fuwa left Japan on July 26. At Narita Airport he stated: "We are happy to respond to the invitation from Tunisia because we believe it important to increase friendly exchanges with Islamic countries as well as non-aligned countries, and we know that Tunisia occupies an important position among the Arab/Islamic world and in the non-aligned movement."
He said that the invitation to attend the first RCD Congress in the 21st century shows that the RCD has a broad perspective and progressive position in its world policy in the new era.
"We wish that our visit this time will be a milestone in the effort to develop relations between the JCP and Tunisia, and making new friends with delegates to the congress gathering from Islamic countries, as well as from Europe, Africa and Asia," Fuwa added. (end)
