President of the Colombian Congress visits Speaker Nukaga

On Tuesday, 13 February, H.S. Iván Leonidas Name Vásquez, President of the Congress of the Republic of Colombia, in Japan at the invitation of the House of Councillors, visited the House of Representatives with his delegation and met with Mr. NUKAGA Fukushiro, Speaker of the House; Mr. KAIEDA Banri, Vice-Speaker; and Mr. YAMAGUCHI Shunichi, Chair of the Standing Committee on Rules and Administration.

Speaker Nukaga began by welcoming the delegation to Japan. He then stated that the two countries have maintained diplomatic relations for more than 110 years and share such values as freedom, human rights, democracy, the rule of law and the rule-based international order. Mr. Nukaga also expressed hope for further exchange between the two nations' parliaments and parliamentarians.

Mr. Name responded by expressing his solidarity with those affected by the Noto Peninsula earthquake and offering his sympathies and condolences to them. He also stressed the importance of the responsibilities of law-making organs, adding that he would like to learn much from Japan in addressing various challenges both at home and abroad.

They also discussed Mr. Name's visit to Hiroshima and the promotion of local autonomy in Colombia.