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Talks between Mr. Taro Aso, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, and Mr. Juan Evo Morales Ayma, President of the Republic of Bolivia

March 7, 2007

From 19:50 to 20:20 on March 6 (Tue), Mr. Taro Aso, Minister for Foreign Affairs, held talks with Mr. Juan Evo Morales Ayma, President of the Republic of Bolivia, who is now on a working visit to Japan. On the outset of the talks, Mr. Aso and Mr. Juan Ramon Quintana Taborga, Minister of the Presidency, signed Exchange of Notes concerning non-project grant aid (800 million) in the presence of President Morales.

1. Opening

Mr. Aso highly valued President Morales' efforts to reduce the gap between the rich and the poor and said that Japan would assist Bolivia's efforts for a proper reform, telling him that Japan expected Bolivia would maintain such basic values as freedom, democracy and the market economy. President Morales expressed his gratitude for Japan's cooperation including debt relief measures and emergency assistance for disasters. He also said that Bolivia wanted to cooperate with Japan in such a forum as the United Nations as Japan, which promotes human security, and Bolivia, which advocates development for better life (vivir bien), have much in common.

2. Economic Relations

Mr. Aso said that Japan was watchful of Bolivia's move to amend the mining law from the viewpoint of promoting Japan's investment in Bolivia, and remarked that in order to invite foreign investment it is important for Bolivia to keep its legal and tax systems competitive and stable and also to have a sufficient exchange of views with potential foreign investor companies, and that Bolivia should refrain from abrupt changes in reforming its systems. Saying that he wanted to advance reform while having talks with investors, President Morales stressed the need to return the benefits produced from Bolivia's natural resources to its people.