A Crane Bird Lands in the United Duchies
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10:00am Cair Para
Cair Para International Airport
General Secretary Junichi Watanabe, a man in his late 60’s now, nearly 70 along with Secretary of State Yuichi Matsuda and Secretary of Commerce and Industry Kyomi Ishijo, all wearing the usual conservative business attire.
Kyomi was the first one to get off the YAL flight. Today would not be her first time in the United Duchies as she spent time in her graduate business school days at the city of Brummagem on a semester on exchange and spoke near fluent English, with her Yosainese accent showing through. She was not a young woman anymore, but she will enjoy her time at in the UD while she can all the same.
Yuichi Matsuda got off next and joined Kyomi to making their way at the designated terminal. He was nearly in his 70’s and was an expatriate with a law firm in Hague in his early 20’s. He used to complain to his parents back home about how everything was expensive and lived with 2 other roommates to live. He remembers not having enough money for much but he always managed to have a good time and pleasant memories.
Last off was their boss Junichi Watanabe. General Secretary of the Federal Republic of Yosai, elected only last year in July. He was relatively New to the United Duchies this was only his second trip here, and it was as the leader of his country. A rather soft spoken and gentle man who was their senior only by a few years. He asked in a joking manner “What you two are going to leave without your leader? It ould be kind of weird if I wasn’t there don’t you think?”
Yuichi in his usual deadpan and dry sense of humor “Or you know it can make things easier for us...Who knows.” Kyomi rolled her eyes “Very droll Yuichi.” Junichi merely chuckled as they made their way to the designated terminal.
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As the plane rolled in the Duchian PM and foreign minister were both waiting. They were to greet the Yosainese at the airport before proceeding to the government electric jaguars to go to Cair Para Palace where rooms had been laid out for them. They greeted the Yosainese with a handshake very formally "Welcome I trust you'll have a have a good time in the Duchies and enjoy our hospitality. I understand for two of you this isn't your first time in our country. " He awaited their response to to walk to the cars securely then they would drive the just over 50 minutes to the palace with police escort.
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The three delegates after shaking hands bowed. General Secretary Junichi Watanabe spoke "Yes, its my first time here." The Secretary of Commerce and Industry Kyomi Ishijo spoke after. "Yes I was here on exchange in my graduate school days studying my MBA at Brummagem." Secretary of State Yuichi Matsuda interjected. "Yes I was also here in my 20's at Hague in my junior days as a lawyer."
General Secretary then took the attention back to himself and Prime Minister John Peter Key. "Its nice to meet you Prime Minister Key. I hope our talks here will be most productive. Well we better not keep this waiting. We have a full sheduale ahead of us."
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Prime Minister Key and his delegation bowed too after the handshake out of respect. He listened and said in response "Fantastic so most you know what to expect culturally here though it has changed quite a bit since the 70's and 80's. Which you've probably noticed on your visits here. We are particuarly proud of how our transport sector has evolved over the years. Anyway we'll be getting in our electric i-Paces quite new too , have to say got a good deal on the cars from JLR!". They then got into the convoy of electric armoured I-Paces.
They then headed out of the airport to the palace it wasn't too long before they would be at the state banquet at the castle. They prepared an exquisite 5 star menu with the Duke in attendance. John Peter Key briefed on the royal etiquette to the High Duke. He said "Don't be nervous about meeting the high duke he's quite personable but the key thing is a firm handshake , its not rude here to do a good firm handshake like it is in some cultures." They got on the drive to the main palace and it was a sight to behold.
They got out the car and John Peter Key said "A sight to behold isn't it , its always great to visit the high Duke here and attend state occaisons. Perhaps we should have a photo of the group with the castle in the background for the press!" -
General Secretary Watanabe replied to Prime Minister Key "It is rather a site to behold. The republic is rather more austere. Yes... Lets take a photo. "
The General Secretary and the other members of his cabinet all got out of the car ready for the Prime Minister to lead the way. "Well Prime Minister Key. After you."
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The group went inside the palace after a joint photo which was then as agreed provided to the media. They led the way to the dining room which was grand in character and big, checking whether there were vegetarians or not. The main course on the menu was venison steak with a red wine sauce with a start of pheasant pan fried dumplings . There was a mixed fusion japanese-duchies menu overseen by a famous Yosai-Duchian chef.
After dinner appetites appetised they went to the meeting room .John Peter Key said "Welcome I wish times were better but I understand you have issues with Spain and I want you to know we may be allies with Spain but we do not approve of their stance. We make it clear we support claims up to halfway across in your situation so we will support you in anyway practical though we have to make concessions Spain being an ally , I hope you understand. Now onto merrier affairs we are here to consumate a friendship, indeed we have many Yosainese here in the Duchies so this is an important meeting to us, we wish to make trade easier. One of the first things I'd like to discuss is trade and immigration, we here in the Duchies are willing to offer favoured nation status to Yosai given how educated your workforce is this is equivlent to a 200 point increase in the immigration system to your citizens if you offer the same to ours and further more we offer free trade allowing you to easily get goods into the Telum treaty by re-exporting through the United Duchies in return though we'd want 0% tariffs the other way and in return for your companies being able to set up subsidiaries easily in our country we'd want the same in your country, does that sound fair?"
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The Yosainese delegation all looked at each other in agreement and "Of course your excellency. We understand reciprocity. And don't worry about the Strait issue, we understand what an awkward position it must be to disagree with an ally. We will grant this request as we feel that it is only fair. Would what you are proposing be a baseline for further ties"
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John Peter Key was glad they agreed "Well we would like to help with your development and in education and cultural ties given the expat links between our nations. We were thinking something along the lines of research partnership programmes between each others companies and universities as well as education exchange programme and programme of cultural twinning and festivals for each others cultures in our respective countries , things like encouraging councils to have markets and festivals of your culture for example. This could bring our nations closer together through cultural exchange programmes."
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Secretary of Commerce & Industry Kyomi Ishijo offered her feelings on the matter. "Ah yes, Prime Minister Key this sounds like a good idea, It will be quite a process however.. How would this be undertaken ?"
Secretary of State Yuichi Matsuda replied "I assume this will take negotiations with our universities and company leaders and other education organisations. That's the reason behind the favored nation status within the 200 points on our citizens visa's with 0% tariffs. "
Mr Watanabe replied while smiling"Our government will be more than willing to send a delegation of heads of our major universities over as well as people from the Department of Education in terms of exchange programs and joint research projects, cultural festivals sounds interesting. Forgive me for this Mr Prime Minister , Your Excellency but I'm afraid I'm not really that familiar with UD holidays and customs. So this initiative would be a good step towards cultural relations. I am guessing this will involve cross communications between selected councils and tourism boards? Or do you have another thing in mind?"
