During their discussion, special attention was paid to bilateral relations and the political situation in BiH and the region. The two agreed that it is especially important for BiH to achieve a continuous process of deliberation on relevant political subjects.

Vice-Minister Hamada expressed Japan's support for an effective dialogue in the region of South East Europe. He offered his country's help to BiH in transferring experiences in the fields of information technology, tourism, the education system, and agricultural production.

He expressed gratitude for the assistance that BiH offered to the citizens of Japan after the strong earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear accident that hit the country last year.

Chairman of the BiH Presidency Bakir Izetbegovic thanked him for the overall support that Japan has provided for BiH for several years.  He said that this support has greatly helped our country.

He expressed satisfaction with Japan's rapid recovery after last year's accident.

Chairman Izetbegovic reiterated his expectation that BiH this year would quickly jump into the process of Euro-Atlantic integration. He also expressed a willingness to invest additional effort in this context, the Chairman's office said in a statement.