Press Conferences

Deputy Press Secretary Mr. Koichi Mizushima: Foreign Minister Kishida is now visiting Brazil and had a meeting with Mr. Luiz Alberto Figueiredo Machado, Minister of External Relations of Brazil, on September 2nd. That meeting was the first foreign minister’s meeting for Minister Figueiredo since he was appointed recently.

In the meeting, both Ministers confirmed that two countries enjoy a special relationship of trust build up over a long history and tradition against a backdrop of human bonds of Japanese descent in Brazil, and welcomed the advances of cooperation of two countries in various fields from political and economic area to education, science and technology and so forth.

Both ministers shared the view that two governments should work together in order to realize a visit by President Rousseff to Japan soon that was postponed in June this year.

While Minister Kishida pointed out that there was significant potential for expanding the multilayered cooperative relationship between the two countries via science and technology and industrial cooperation, Minister Figueiredo expressed his expectation that further advances in bilateral cooperation in the field of science and technology as is the case with the digital broadcasting system.

Both ministers also shared the view that two governments would continue to cooperate in the international arena in such issues as UN Security Council reform, nuclear disarmament and WTO.

Ahead of the Foreign Ministers’ meeting, the signing ceremony of the visa exemption arrangement for diplomatic or official passport holders was held, which is expected to contribute to the promotion of exchanges between two countries.