Heavyweight delegation arrives in Indrala for symbolic official visitJanuary 4408Vize-Staatsminister Karolu Mori, the ranking Kunihito member of the Heumayr MinistryTian'an, Han, Indrala - Following the successful investiture of a new Cabinet in Indrala, the Crownlander delegation to Indrala has finally been able to depart for the Shining Rock. The high-ranking delegation consists of Staatsminister Heumayr and Finance Minister Goddestreu, with ranking Kunihito minister Karolu Mori, the Vize-Staatsminister and Minister for Internal Affairs, accompanying them to represent the Gao-Showa population of the Crownlands to one of the most populous Gao-Showa nations. The visit is highly symbolic and takes place upon the 800th anniversary year of the Treaty of Phoenix and Dragon, which ended a lengthy period of tensions between the First United Imperial Crownlands and Indrala.
The government is thought to want to prevent a new conflict of the same variety as the Mandate of Heaven Controversy that the Phoenix and Dragon Treaty ended, now that the Crownlands are taking a more assertive role in the affairs of North Dovani once more. The two nations have often been at odds over the heritage of the Medieval Empire of Gao-Soto, which Indrala claims originated on its shores and continued there while the Crownlands also claims its heritage. Previous Indralan governments have considered the Kunihito of Gao-Soto to have been unduly influenced by the Artanian settlers from Luthori and Dundorf that became the Hulstrians, while Crownlander governments have often viewed this attitude as somewhat offensive. The Martin Divergence, an account of Gao-Showan history supported among others by Dankuk and Indrala, is still a bone of contention to scholars and politicians in the Crownlands. This might be the reason Mori has been added to the delegation: he is a historian by trade and has a nuanced view of the Divergence. When asked about it by the Crownlander press, Mori said there was much to be said for placing the origins of the Gao-Showa in Indrala but that several of the arguments offered based on that were tainted by a normative political bias against the Kunihito in the Crownlands. The treaty drafted in support of the Divergence contains many of such statements and as such is unpalatable to the Crownlands, said Mori, but he said the Crownlands were willing to agree to a cooperative research programme into medieval Gao-Showan history to shed further light on the development of continental Gao-Showan culture.
"We should not argue who is the rightful or original Gao-Showa culture, but rather celebrate and study its diversity with new emphasis," said Mori.
To mark the 800th year of the Phoenix and Dragon Treaty, the Imperial Household Agency announced that Heumayr and Mori would be delivering a personal message from the Gao-Showan Emperor Yoshinaga to the Tianshun Emperor. Details of the itinerary agreed show that the message will be received by Prince Jianhao. The Imperial Household Agency said the message contained the Mikado's wish for further engagement between the two dynasties and good relations between the Crownlands and Indrala, and contained an invitation for a visit to Miyako by the Son of Heaven. Sources on the Indralan side suggest the Son of Heaven might be too old to travel. When confronted with this possibility, Crownlander diplomats confirmed that Yoshinaga, who is by far a younger man, would be willing to visit Indrala later this year.
The visit also revolves around the economic ambitions of the Crownlands. Like with all visits, a large delegation of businessmen, particularly from Hilgar and Mitrania, have accompanied the delegation. In addition with meeting with the responsible officials, it is thought the Ministers will also meet with the leaders of various important corporations to secure investment. Chief on the itinerary is a visit to Tenkoun of Indrala, the largest branch of the originally Syakusen-based console gaming company whose portfolio includes Super José, to discuss the return of the company's headquarters to the Crownlands. A spokesperson for Tenkoun emphasised that the company had not forgotten its heritage and was actively considering whether the circumstances in the Crownlands justified a return. In addition to this promotion programme, an invitation will also be issued to Indrala, as a player in the Dovani economy, to attend the upcoming Dovani Economic Forum.
The delegation is set to stay in Indrala for a week, leaving again in early February.