Japan-Colombia Relations

On November 19, commencing at 2:00 p.m. (local time; 4 a.m., November 20, Japan time) for approximately 20 minutes, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who is visiting Lima to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting, held a Japan-Colombia Summit Meeting with H.E. Mr. Juan Manuel Santos, President of the Republic of Colombia. The overview is as follows.

1. Prime Minister Abe once again congratulated President Santos on winning the Nobel Peace Prize, along with expressing his continued support for the peace process. In addition, Prime Minister Abe announced that Japan has decided to provide Colombia with 1 billion yen in grant aid toward the removal of land mines in order to support Colombia's nation-building. Furthermore, Prime Minister Abe welcomed that a new peace agreement has been reached in Colombia, and expressed his expectation that peace will be realized promptly.
2. President Santos stated that Japan's support with land mine removal is extremely effective, and expressed his gratitude for the new support, along with explaining that deliberating the new peace agreement in Colombia's Congress will be important.
3. The two leaders confirmed that negotiations on the Japan-Colombia Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), which will also be important to the consolidation of peace and nation-building in Colombia, are at the final stage, and that they will aim to conclude the negotiations promptly.
4. The two leaders also exchanged views on cooperation in the international arena, including the North Korea situation.