Courtesy Call on Mr. Koichiro Gemba, Minister for Foreign Affairs, by Mr. Sergio Diaz-Granados Guida, Minister of Trade, Industry and Tourism of the Republic of Colombia

December 17, 2012
Japanese

On December 17, Mr. Koichiro Gemba, Minister for Foreign Affairs, received a courtesy call from Mr. Sergio Diaz-Granados Guida, Minister of Trade, Industry and Tourism of the Republic of Colombia, who was visiting Japan for the first round of negotiations for the Japan-Colombia Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), from 2:40 pm for approximately 20 minutes. An overview of the meeting is as follows:

At the beginning, Minister Gemba stated that he was pleased to be able to hold the first round of negotiations in a swift manner following the Japan-Colombia summit meeting held last September, in which the commencement of negotiations for the EPA was determined. Minister Gemba also stated that he would like to carry out negotiations with the aim of reaching a comprehensive and high-level agreement. In response, Mr. Diaz-Granados, Minister of Trade, Industry and Tourism of the Republic of Colombia, stated that he would like to closely cooperate with the Japanese side for an early conclusion of the EPA negotiations and expressed his expectation that the conclusion of the EPA would increase trade and investment in Colombia from Japan.

Moreover, Minister Gemba stated that he had held his first foreign ministers’ meeting after his appointment as the foreign minister with Ms. María Ángela Holguín Cuéllar, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Colombia, and that Japan has maintained close relations with Colombia. Minister Gemba also stated that there are expectations both from the public and private sector regarding the EPA and that he would like to strengthen bilateral relations through the conclusion of the EPA in the hope that strengthened bilateral relations would also lead to strengthened cooperation in the international arena.
In addition, both ministers exchanged opinions on the strengthening of bilateral relations, the Pacific Alliance, and other issues.

(* The foregoing is a provisional translation. The date indicated above denotes the date of issue of the original press release in Japanese.)

(END)

Back to Index