Japanese Emperor Naruhito received Croatian Parliament Speaker

Tokyo - Japanese Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako on Tuesday received in audience Croatian Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković and his wife Sonja.

Jandroković is the second foreign official following US President Donald Trump to be received by Naruhito after his accession to the throne upon his father Akihito's abdication.

The Parliament Speaker expressed his gratitude for the exceptional welcome shown to the Croatian delegation during the official visit to Japan. Both sides expressed their confidence that this visit would boost friendly relations as well as cooperation in many areas between the two countries.

They discussed economic cooperation and in particular tourism with regard to the growing number of Japanese guests visiting Croatia and Jandroković expressed hope that the emperor and the empress would also visit his country. They talked about Croatia's success in sports and in particular the success of its national football team at the World Cup in Russia.

Earlier on Tuesday, Jandroković met with the Speakers of both Houses of Japan's parliament and invited Japanese investors for cooperation, underlining positive examples of business cooperation between the Kali Tuna and Yazaki companies in Croatia.

Jandroković arrived in Japan on Monday for a several-day official visit and first met with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.