Japan-Argentina Relations

May 19, 2017
Japanese
photo1: Japan-Argentina Summit Meeting (Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office)
photo2: Japan-Argentina Summit Meeting (Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office)
photo3: Japan-Argentina Summit Meeting (Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office)

　On May 19, commencing at 6:10 p.m. for approximately 50 minutes, Mr. Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan, held a summit meeting with H.E. Mr. Mauricio Macri, President of the Argentine Republic, who is making an Official Visit to Japan. The overview of the meeting is as follows.

1. Opening remarks

(1) Prime Minister Abe welcomed President Macri’s visit to Japan, the first visit by a President of Argentina in 19 years, along with expressing his support for President Macri’s leadership in driving Mercosur and South America by promoting various free and open reforms. Additionally, Prime Minister Abe explained that in light of the 120th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations in 2018 next year, he hopes to establish a new Japan-Argentina relationship.
(2) In response, President Macri expressed his gratitude for this invitation to Japan, and for being able to develop a strategic partnership with Japan towards the 120th anniversary of next year.

2. Bilateral relations

(1) Strategic partners

　Prime Minister Abe explained that as “strategic partners” that share fundamental values, he hopes Japan and Argentina will accumulate concrete outcomes through venues such as policy consultations, the World Trade Organization (WTO) Ministerial Conference and the G20 Summit that will be held in Argentina toward next year.

(2) Strengthening economic relations

　Prime Minister Abe welcomed that a substantial agreement was recently reached on an investment agreement, along with mentioning that Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) resumed loan operation to the government of Argentina for the first time in 20 years, and stating that he hopes to continue promoting quality infrastructure investment. Prime Minister Abe also welcomed the creation of a “Roadmap for strengthening trade and economic relations” for the Japan-Argentina Joint Committee on Promoting Trade and Investment, the establishment of a bilateral dialogue on agriculture, livestock, fishing, forestry and agroindustrial sectors, as well as the progress with discussions on trade of agricultural products.

(3) Exchanges of nationals

　Prime Minister Abe welcomed the signing of a memorandum of cooperation on a working holiday program, which is Japan’s first agreement of this kind with a Latin American country, along with stating that he intends to further advance exchanges of nationals, including people-to-people exchanges, sports and tourism, toward the success of the 2018 Youth Olympic Games and the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games.

3. Cooperation in the regional affairs and the international fora

　Prime Minister Abe noted the importance of ensuring freedom of navigation at sea, including in the East China Sea and South China Sea, and of respecting the rule of law. The two leaders strongly condemned nuclear tests and ballistic missile launches by North Korea, and shared the view that they will urge North Korea to comply with the relevant United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions and other international commitments.

　Following the summit meeting, three documents, the Memorandum of Cooperation in the field of agriculture, livestock, fishing, forestry and agroindustry, the Memorandum in the field of Digital Terrestrial Television and in the field of information and communications technology and the Memorandum of Cooperation on a Working Holiday Program were signed in the presence of the two leaders. Subsequently the two leaders held a joint press conference and issued the Joint Press Statement( English (PDF)Open a New Window ). Prime Minister Abe and Mrs. Abe then hosted a dinner where the two leaders had conversation on a broad range of topics relating to the bilateral relations.

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