THE MINISTER FOR GOZO MEETS SCHOLARS FROM HITOTSUBASHI UNIVERSITY, TOKYO

The Minister for Gozo, the Hon. Giovanna Debono, met a group of Japanese scholars, led by Professor Hiroshi Kato from Hitotsubashi University, on Sunday 3^rd September, who were in Malta for a Workshop on the theme "Multiculturalism in the Mediterranean World". The topics of the Workshop included various cultural aspects of Mediterranean Societies, including the island of Gozo.

During a visit to the University Gozo Centre the scholars discussed collaboration arrangements with the Director of the Centre and explored the possibility of organising meetings in Gozo for Japanese scholars on themes related to Mediterranean culture.

In her speech, the Minister for Gozo said that she was pleased to meet such a distinguished gathering. She said that Gozo has its own cultural identity, although there are many similarities with mainland Malta. The island of Gozo is more dependent on agriculture and this affects the culture and the environment of Gozo. She said that Gozo is projecting itself as a unique tourist destination. She encouraged the Japanese scholars to strengthen their ties with the University of Malta.

Members of the Japanese group of scholars were presented with a sample of Gozo lace as a souvenir of Gozo by Ms. Consiglia Azzopardi, who co-ordinates the Lace Programme at the University Gozo Centre.