Japan-Costa Rica Relations

August 8, 2024
Japanese

On August 8, 2024, commencing at 12:30 p.m., Mr. HAYASHI Yoshimasa, Chief Cabinet Secretary of Japan, held a lunch meeting for approximately 70 minutes with H.E. Mr. Stefan BRUNNER, First Vice-President of the Republic of Costa Rica, who is visiting Japan. The summary of the meeting is as follows.

  1. At the outset, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi welcomed First Vice-President Brunner's visit to Japan and stated that the fact that he was accompanied by important ministers such as H.E. Dr. Arnoldo ANDRÉ, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Worship, H.E. Dr. Manuel TOVAR, Minister of Foreign Trade, and H.E. Ms. Paula BOGANTES, Minister of Science, Innovation, Technology and Telecommunications is evidence of the close and important bilateral relationship between the two countries. Noting that Japan and Costa Rica share values and principles and that the next year marks the 90th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi expressed his hope to make this First Vice-President’s visit to Japan an opportunity to further develop bilateral relations.
  2. In addition, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi explained Japan's diplomatic policy toward Latin America and the Caribbean and stated that Japan attaches great importance to cooperation with Costa Rica, which is a peace-loving, leading country in the environmental field and advocate of free trade. In response, First Vice-President Brunner expressed his appreciation for the explanation and mentioned that he also values the longstanding friendship and cooperation with Japan and would like to deepen the cooperation on the occasion of the 90th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations next year.
  3. Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi also stated that it is essential to maintain and expand a rules-based free and fair economic order, and thus, it is becoming increasingly important to strengthen cooperation in order to ensure economic resilience and economic security. He added that, against this backdrop, Japan is reassured to hand over the Chair of the OECD Ministerial Council Meeting (MCM) to Costa Rica next year and Japan intends to cooperate closely on issues including economic security. He also stated that Japan attaches great importance to the CPTPP, which Costa Rica aims to join, because of its strategic and diplomatic significance in maintaining and strengthening a free and fair international economic order, in addition to its economic significance. In response, First Vice-President Brunner stated that Costa Rica was encouraged by the support of countries such as Japan that share values and principles, and that they would like to work closely with Japan, taking over firmly the path drawn by Japan as the current chair of the OECD MCM, to ensure the success of the MCM, and that Costa Rica would like to receive Japan’s cooperation to achieve its early accession to the CPTPP. They also had a close exchange of views on digital infrastructure and investment.
  4. In addition, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi, on behalf of the Government and people of Japan, expressed his appreciation for First Vice-President Brunner’s attendance at the Peace Memorial Ceremony in Hiroshima on behalf of President Chávez. The two sides confirmed that they will continue exchange of views toward the common goal of a world without nuclear weapons.
  5. The two sides also exchanged views on a wide range of issue related to bilateral and multilateral cooperation in political and economic fields, regional and international situations. The lunch meeting was covered by a cordial atmosphere.

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