Japan-Chile Relations
Foreign Minister Hayashi’s meetings with Nikkei people and with Japanese business people in Chile, and dinner with Chilean experts
May 4, 2023
On May 4, commencing at 4:00 p.m. (local time; 5:00 a.m. on May 5 JST) for approximately one hour and 20 minutes, Mr. HAYASHI Yoshimasa, Minister for Foreign Affairs, who is visiting Santiago, Chile, had a meeting with Nikkei people (Japanese immigrants and descendants) residing in Chile. Then, commencing at 5:40 p.m. (local time; 6:40 a.m. on May 5 JST), he met with Japanese business people working in Chile, for approximately one hour. He also had a dinner meeting with Chilean experts commencing at 7:20 p.m. (local time; 8:20 a.m. on May 5 JST) for approximately one hour and 30 minutes. The overview is as follows.
- During the meeting with the Nikkei people, Minister Hayashi reiterated his respect for the trust that the Nikkei community has won through great efforts for Chile's development in the face of many difficulties, and upon which Chilean society has placed confidence in Japan. In addition, Minister Hayashi stated that the Government of Japan will implement various policies mainly through the "Division for Collaboration with Communities of Japanese Immigrants and Descendants (“Nikkei”) in Latin America," which was newly established in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs last January, so that the government can promote cooperation between Japan and Latin American Nikkei communities further. Then, Minister Hayashi and the Nikkei people exchanged their views on such issues as how to promote Japanese language education, how to introduce Japanese culture, and how to deepen collaboration between Japan and the Nikkei community.
- Following this, Minister Hayashi met with representatives of Japanese companies and exchanged views on the business environment in Chile and challenges they face. During the meeting, Minister Hayashi expressed his hope for further cooperation between Japanese companies and Chile in areas such as important mineral resources and clean energy, and stated that the government would continue to make efforts to support Japanese companies.
- Also, Minister Hayashi had a dinner meeting with Chilean Japanophile intellectuals who are active in various fields. Minister Hayashi explained Japan's diplomatic efforts, including the maintaining and strengthening of a free and open international order based on the rule of law. They exchanged views on various challenges in the international community, efforts to address them, the roles that Japan and Chile should play, as well as measures to strengthen the bilateral relations.