Visit to Japan of His Excellency Dr. Jorge Luis Batlle, President of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay
(Outline and Evaluation)

20 April 2001

His Excellency President Jorge Luis Batlle of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay visited Japan on an official working visit from 15 to 19 April. The following is an outline and evaluation of the visit (schedule and career summary are attached separately).

1. Outline

(1) Summit meeting and dinner hosted by Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori (17 April)

* Prime Minister Mori and President Batlle confirmed the importance of the further promotion of exchange between the two countries making use of the opportunity provided by the 80th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. Both leaders also confirmed the importance of each other's cooperation in the international arena on such issues as the new World Trade Organization (WTO) round and global warming.

* Prime Minister Mori stated that Japan would cooperate with the IT National Center Project to support the growth of information technology (IT) in Uruguay focusing on the education sector, and committed to dispatch a mission for preliminary investigation. Prime Minister Mori further affirmed the possibility of cooperation through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) toward assistance of non-governmental organization (NGO) activities in Uruguay. In the interest of promoting human exchange, Prime Minister Mori announced the implementation of plans to invite youths from Uruguay to Japan, including the International Youth Development Exchange Program run by the Cabinet Office. Moreover, he explained about the establishment of Japanese language courses at the University of the Republic of Uruguay as a center for the study of Japan in the future.

* President Batlle requested the early resumption of Uruguayan beef imports to Japan. In response, Prime Minister Mori conveyed that Japan was considering the matter from a scientific and technological standpoint, and stated that if there were no problems, he would dispatch a team of Japanese experts as soon as possible.

(2) Meeting with Japanese business circles, economic seminar (16 April)

* Talks were held among Japanese and Uruguayan business circles at a welcome luncheon hosted by five economic organizations, and an economic investment seminar on the present situation and outlook regarding Uruguay's economy also took place.

(3) Enhanced schedule

* President Batlle's schedule included a visit to a performance in Japan by the Uruguay Tango Orchestra, a visit to NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation) and an exchange of views with JICA President Kunihiko Saito. Furthermore, the visit he made to Hiroshima deepened his understanding regarding the approach toward peace by Hiroshima Prefecture and the City of Hiroshima.

2. Significance and Evaluation of the Visit

(1) Activation of exchange making use of the opportunity provided by the 80th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Uruguay

A vibrant exchange of views was held at the leader level on such matters as the promotion of understanding and interest between the people of both countries through the implementation of various economic and cultural events, including the construction of a Japanese garden in Montevideo City, and the realization of Japan-Uruguay youth exchange through exchange programs.

(2) Materialization of Japanese IT sector cooperation to Uruguay

Japan paved the way toward specific cooperation stating that it would dispatch a mission for investigation to substantiate plans for establishment of a national center for accelerating the promotion of IT in the field of education, one of Uruguay's priority policy items.

(3) Confirmation of cooperative and cohesive relations between Japan and Uruguay in the international arena on such issues as the new WTO round and global warming

Both countries agreed to continue to collaborate in close consultations on their support for the launch of the new WTO round in November this year and promoting measures toward the United States and China concerning the Kyoto Protocol.

(4) Deepening of Japan's understanding of and interest in the Uruguayan economy through exchange with Japan economic circles and the holding of an economic seminar

The seminar was attended by 120 representatives from Japanese business circles and other areas. This seminar enabled its participants to gain a deeper understanding of Uruguay's economy, which boasts a free and open economic system run by sound economic management, and heightened the Japanese side's interest concerning the possibility of Japanese investment in such areas as afforestation and the development of ports and harbors.