Japan-Argentina Relations
Meeting with Minister of Economy of the Argentine Republic Massa
January 10, 2023
On January 10, commencing at 3:10 p.m. (local time; 3:10 a.m. on January 11 JST) for approximately 40 minutes, Mr. HAYASHI Yoshimasa, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, who is visiting Buenos Aires, Argentina, held a meeting with H.E. Mr. Sergio Tomás Massa, Minister of Economy of the Argentine Republic. The overview of the meeting is as follows.
- At the outset, Minister Hayashi stated that he was pleased to meet Minister Massa for the first time, that Argentina is a strategic partner with which Japan shares fundamental values, and that he would like to have a fruitful exchange of views on the strengthening of bilateral relations and issues of the international community, particularly in the economic and trade fields. In response, Minister Massa welcomed Minister Hayashi's visit to Argentina and expressed his hope to take this opportunity to reinforce bilateral economic relations further.
- Minister Hayashi stated that the importance of Argentina as a supplier of rich mineral and food resources, such as lithium and soybeans, is growing under the current international circumstances, and expressed his hope for the expansion and deepening of bilateral economic relations between the two countries. He also referred to investment in Argentina by Japanese companies in the automotive, natural resources, energy and other sectors, and expressed his desire to enhance ties with the aim of improving the business environment and promoting trade and investment between the two countries. Furthermore, he also conveyed requests regarding the investment environment in Argentina, including various regulations, with a view to strengthening bilateral economic relations further.
- Minister Hayashi also stated that, amidst continuing challenges to the existing international order such as Russia's aggression against Ukraine, it is important to return to the philosophy and principles of the UN Charter and to ensure the rule of law, and confirmed with Economy Minister Massa that the two countries would work together on various issues in the international arena.