The government has appointed Yasuyuki Fujishima as ambassador to Panama and Keitaro Sato as ambassador to Tanzania, Foreign Ministry officials said Friday.

Fujishima, 51, who entered the Ministry of International Trade and Industry in 1968, is currently with the ministry's secretariat, the officials said.

The appointment reflects Japan's placing importance on the economic relationship with Panama, they said.

Sato, 60, who entered the Foreign Ministry in 1956, is currently consul general in Penang, Malaysia, according to the officials.