Japan-Argentina Relations
Prime Minister Abe’s Visit to the Argentine Republic
(Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office)
(Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office)
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited the Argentine Republic on November 21st (Monday) and participated in events that took place in Buenos Aires. The overview is as follows.
- 1. Schedule
- 2. Interactions with Japanese Descendants
- 3. Japan-Argentina Summit Meeting
- 4. Signing Ceremony and Japan-Argentina Joint Press Occasion
- 5. Luncheon hosted by President Macri
- 6. Japan-Argentina Economic Forum
1. Schedule
- Interactions with Japanese Descendants
- Floral Tribute
- Japan-Argentina Summit Meeting
- Signing Ceremony and Japan-Argentina Joint Press Occasion
- Luncheon hosted by President Macri
- Japan-Argentina Economic Forum
(Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office)
(Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office)
(Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office)
2. Interactions with Japanese Descendants
Prime Minister Abe interacted with approximately 1,000 Japanese descendants living in Argentina and approximately 20 representatives of Japanese descendants in nine other Latin American and Caribbean countries at the Okinawa Center in Buenos Aires. Prime Minister Abe expressed his gratitude to Japanese descendants who have earned trust in the Argentine society, and lauded those representatives of Japanese descendants in Latin America and the Caribbean for working hard to foster cooperation among young generations across borders.
(Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office)
(Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office)
(Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office)
3. Japan-Argentina Summit Meeting
Prime Minister Abe had a summit meeting with President Macri at the Office of the President from 12:30 p.m. on 21st local time (0:30 a.m. on 22nd Japan time) for approximately 50 minutes.
(Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office)
(1) At the beginning, President Macri welcomed Prime Minister Abe’s visit and expressed his expectation towards Japanese companies as he wishes to establish new bilateral relations, centering on trade and investment. The President also mentioned that he wants to develop bilateral relations in the field of tourism, sports, and science and technology.
(2) Prime Minister Abe expressed his appreciation for the invitation of the official visit and stated that he was delighted for being able to visit Argentina as an incumbent Prime Minister of Japan for the first time in 57 years.
Japan and Argentina have enjoyed friendly relations for more than a century, owing partly to the presence of the Japanese descendant community. The two countries are important partners that share fundamental values such as liberty, democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. In order to further advance the bilateral relations, the two leaders shared the view on the following points:
- Establish a strategic partnership;
- Work towards an early conclusion of the negotiation on the bilateral investment treaty and continue making steady progress in the efforts to develop investment and trade and to improve the business environment; and
- Advance the dialogue between Japan and MERCOSUR, when Argentina holds the Pro Tempore Presidency of MERCOSUR in the first half of next year.
(3) Prime Minister Abe welcomed the fact that President Macri has been promoting open and free economic policies and has been leading the change in Latin America and the Caribbean. The Prime Minister also noted that Japanese companies’ understanding on and interest towards business opportunities in Argentina, starting with the field of infrastructure development, have been boosted, as demonstrated by the establishment of consultation frameworks with the participation of the business circles since the Summit Meeting in April. To further promote private investment from Japan to Argentina, he announced that he will further advance efforts to support Japanese companies’ activities in Argentina by actively utilizing the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC)
and the Nippon Export and Investment Insurance (NEXI) and by supporting the industrial human resources development, among others.
(4) The two leaders exchanged opinions on a wide range of challenges of the international community.
Prime Minister Abe elaborated on the recent situation in East Asia and stated that the preservation of the freedom of navigation and adherence to the rule of law are essential in order to ensure peace and security of the region and the international community.
Prime Minister Abe referred to the issues regarding North Korea, including the abductions issue, and expressed his concern over the nuclear and missile development. President Macri shared such concern.
The two leaders shared the intention to cooperate towards the Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization in 2017 and the G20 Summit in 2018, which will be hosted by Argentina.
4. Signing Ceremony and Japan-Argentina Joint Press Occasion
(Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office)
(Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office)
After the Summit meeting, the following Memoranda of Cooperation were signed and exchanged in the presence of Prime Minister Abe and President Macri:
- the Memorandum of Cooperation between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Worship of Argentina for the establishment of a reinforced mechanism of political consultations (signed by H.E. Mr. Noriteru Fukushima, Ambassador of Japan to Argentina, and H.E. Ms. Susana Malcorra, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Worship of Argentina);
- the Memorandum of Cooperation between the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) and the Argentine Investment and Trade Promotion Agency (AITA) to strengthen mutual relations and to establish a cooperation framework with the aim of promoting business (signed by Mr. Hiroyuki Ishige, Chairman and CEO of JETRO, and Mr. Juan M. Procaccini, Executive President of AITA); and
- the Memorandum of Cooperation between the Japan Overseas Infrastructure Investment Corporation for Transport and Urban Development (JOIN) and AITA to exchange information and hold consultations on transportation and urban development projects (signed by Mr. Takuma Hatano, President and CEO of JOIN, and Mr. Juan M. Procaccini, Executive President of AITA).
(Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office)
The two leaders also issued a Joint Statement (English (PDF)
/ Japanese (PDF)) that compiled a wide range of vision to further strengthen bilateral cooperation between the two countries in the bilateral context as well as in the international fora.
5. Luncheon hosted by President Macri
(Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office)
(Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office)
Prime Minister Abe participated in the luncheon hosted by President Macri at the Presidential Office. President Macri welcomed Prime Minister Abe’s official visit at this timing when the bilateral relations have reached a new stage. Prime Minister Abe lauded the contribution made by the Japanese descendant community in Argentina and welcomed that the bilateral relations are embarking on a new stage for further deepening, as mutual exchanges at Summit and Ministerial levels expand thanks to President Macri’s strong leadership. Prime Minister Abe also received the “Orden del Libertador San Martin Grado Gran Cruz.”
6. Japan-Argentina Economic Forum
(Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office)
(Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office)
(Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office)
(Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office)
Prime Minister Abe participated in the Japan-Argentina Economic Forum. He stated that the Japan-Argentina economic relations have great potential and that the two countries will make efforts to develop legal frameworks such as a bilateral investment treaty and to improve the business environment of the two countries.