Editorial Local News Japan, Barbados looking to enhance relations Barbados Today30/07/2025094 views Minister of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs, Kirk Humphrey, listens attentively to Japan’s Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, ERI Arfiya. (BGIS) A three-pronged approach to enhancing bilateral relations between Japan and Barbados was proposed recently, when Japan’s Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, ERI Arfiya, paid a courtesy call on Minister of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs, Kirk Humphrey. Vice-Minister Arfiya noted the establishment of a bilateral working group towards the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Japan and Barbados, in 2027, would serve as a forum to discuss several issues including efforts to strengthen bilateral relations and the possibilities for cooperation in the international arena. She spoke about the need to strengthen cooperation with respect to addressing natural disasters, focusing on water disaster risk reduction and water utilisation, as well as working with the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency and the Government of Barbados. Barbados and Japan established diplomatic relations on August 29, 1967.