Mr. Saikou Ceesay, Communications Officer at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad on Thursday October 18, 2018 delivered a moving speech in front of diplomats and public officials at a welcome reception organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan held at Monterey hotel in Tokyo. A total of 32 officers, 27 foreign service officers and 5 public officials from all regions of the world are currently benefiting from 9 months intensive training at Japan Foundation Institute in Kansai, Osaka. Addressing members of the diplomatic corps on behalf of participants, Mr. Ceesay said the programme was designed to provide intensive training in Japanese language with a view to developing pragmatic skills and expose non-native public servants to the culture and society of Japan through language courses, study trips and visits, networking and home stay with Japanese families among others. He added: " The course will facilitate the creation of special and indomitable bonds between the participants which will no doubt be beneficial to our careers as diplomats and public officials, for instance, if we were to be posted in Japan in the near future." Mr.Ceesay underscored the importance of the language programme.This, he said would encourage participants aspire that skills acquired in the programme will augur well for the strengthening of bonds and relations between their countries and Japan. He said learning the Japanese language and about their culture and people will encourage people-to-people contact. This philosophy, he went on, may be best underpinned by the following quote by Nelson Mandela, former president of South Africa who, says "If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head, if you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart." He expressed appreciation to the Government of Japan and Japan Foundation while urging his colleagues at the Japanese learning higher Institute to endeavour as they entered the fourth week of their 9-month course. The reception was graced by several high ranking diplomats in Japan and key among them were Her Excellency Ms. Toshiko ABE, State Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, Mr. Tomoyuki Sakurai, Executive Vice President of the Japan Foundation, His Excellency Dr. Asad Majeed Khan, Ambassador of Pakistan to Japan and guest of honour. Issued by the Communication Unit of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad.