The Nelson’s J-E Character Dictionary defines 機 as opportunity, occasion, time, machine, airplane or loom (hata). I am using either “opportunity” in this case.


* Take this opportunity to commemorate the 1300th year of the transferring of the capital.... (since it's now 2010)

or, in a less literal sense...

* Take this opportunity to commemorate the 1,300th year as the previous capital of Japan.


Below are the reference materials I used for the above:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nara,_Nara
In 2010 Nara is celebrating its 1300th anniversary as the previous capital of Japan.


http://www.kuretake.co.uk/company/about-us.aspx
In 710 the capital of Japan was transferred by Empress Gemmei from Fujiwara to Nara, which prospered as the political, economic, and cultural centre of the country for the next 74 years, during what is known as the Nara Period.

http://www.hgeo.h.kyoto-u.ac.jp/soramitsu/Nara.html

The age of Nara, however, was drawing to an end. Emperor Kammu, the sovereign at the time, had made up his mind to transfer the capital to renew the public feelings.