Press Conferences

Ms. KAMIKAWA Yoko, Minister for Foreign Affairs: Japan and Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries, including Panama, have established a deep relationship of trust based on historically friendly bilateral relations. In this process, the Nikkei people trod honestly through hardship and are highly respected in LAC countries, serving as an important bridge between Japan and this region.

Japan’s diplomacy toward the LAC region has developed under a series of diplomacy guidelines, including the three “juntos” announced in 2014. Based on shared values and principles, trust and friendship have deepened between Japan and the region as partners that (1) lead the world together, (2) progress together, and (3) inspire together, both through economic relations in which each side needs the other and through people-to-people exchanges.

This idea of working together has never been more important than now when the situation around the world is at a turning point in history. Japan, together with LAC countries, will uphold and strengthen the free and open international order based on the rule of law and continue to press forward vigorously on a path that protects “human dignity” so that all people can enjoy peace, stability, and prosperity.

With these intentions in mind, Japan announces its “Diplomatic Initiative toward Latin America and the Caribbean.” This initiative aims to establish and foster a new stage of collaboration through dialogue with LAC countries, building on the principles and achievements of Japan’s diplomacy toward the LAC region and the trust it has earned.

The relationship between Japan and the LAC region goes back over 400 years. Bearing this long timeline in mind, Japan looks forward to holding dialogues carefully with LAC countries over the course of the year, especially with this year being the “Year of Latin America and the Caribbean,” and to developing and further elaborating this initiative for the future.

In addition to bilateral diplomacy, which has been at the heart of our diplomacy toward the LAC region, we intend to incorporate new perspectives, such as “diverse networking,” the leading examples of which include triangular cooperation and cooperation with regional groups.

This time, I focused on ocean and gender cooperation with Panama. President Cortizo and I confirmed that the two countries will collaborate on further strengthening their bilateral relations on the occasion of the 120th anniversary of diplomatic relations. We also confirmed that Japan and Panama will work together to maintain and develop a “free and open ocean” supported by a maritime order based on the rule of law, as well as the importance of gender equality, including Women, Peace and Security (WPS).

I visited the Panama Canal as part of our efforts to further enhance our ocean cooperation. Former President and Minister of Canal Affairs Royo and I concurred on the importance of maintaining and strengthening maritime connectivity by ensuring the environment for the safe and stable use of the Panama Canal. Furthermore, Metro Line 3 is a Japanese cooperation project that is critical for enhancing connectivity, and is expected to become a model case across the LAC region. Japan will work to enhance connectivity with the LAC region in collaboration with Panama as well.

We will also cooperate on nuclear disarmament with LAC, the first region in the world to create a regional nuclear free zone treaty. Panama in particular has worked step by step with Japan, including becoming a co-sponsor of the draft resolution on the elimination of nuclear weapons that Japan submitted to the United Nations.

During my visit, I had the opportunity to hear insightful perspectives directly from Japanese residents and members of Japanese companies. They shared with me various ideas for expanding the “Diplomatic Initiative toward Latin America and the Caribbean” through aspects such as life and business in the region, as well as education, including the dissemination of Japanese language education.

I believe this visit to Panama has become the first step for forging a future together with LAC countries. The horizon that Japanese diplomacy looks out on extends endlessly, from the island countries I visited recently, to the LAC region I am visiting now, to Africa where I will visit in the future, and beyond. I hope to actively add value to Japanese diplomacy in my own way.

That is all from me.

Reporter: I have a question about your visit overall. As you just mentioned, you visited Pacific Island countries this month and you are visiting Panama this time. Both are maritime nations albeit in different regions. What is the significance of conducting diplomacy with maritime nations? In addition, please explain again the significance of the “Diplomatic Initiative toward Latin America and the Caribbean” that was unveiled through the media.

Minister Kamikawa: Japan thrives on the benefits received from the ocean and is connected to the world by the ocean. For Japan, it is vitally important to maintain and develop a “free and open ocean” supported by a maritime order based on the rule of law.

From this viewpoint, following on my recent visit to Pacific Island countries, we focused on “oceans” as a new theme of cooperation with the LAC region in the “Diplomatic Initiative toward Latin America and the Caribbean.”

In my dialogue with Panama, which is situated in a key junction of global marine transportation and which is an important stopover point for LAC and Japanese trade, we confirmed that the two countries will cooperate to maintain and develop a “free and open ocean” supported by a maritime order based on the rule of law. I believe this marked a new step for our maritime cooperation. I will be sure to take stock of the outcomes of this visit and leverage them for Japan’s diplomacy toward the LAC region going forward.

Reporter: I would like to ask about the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting you attended until yesterday. In the chairman’s summary, the Brazilian Presidency states, “Several countries reaffirmed their rejection of the war in Ukraine.” However, it did not outright condemn Russia. During the meeting, you condemned Russia’s invasion in strong terms, describing it as “an outrageous act” and “a great challenge to the rule of law.” What is your view of the summary including the Brazilian position?

Minister Kamikawa: My understanding is that, while Brazil is the Presidency, the statement you referred to itself was a summary of the discussions held at the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. Minister Vieira expressed the position of the Government of Brazil as follows: “Brazil cannot accept a world in which differences are addressed by the use of military force.”

In my bilateral meeting with Minister Vieira, we confirmed that we will work closely together in addressing urgent challenges in the international community, including Ukraine.

In the Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, I, myself, stated that Russia’s aggression against Ukraine is an outrageous act that shakes the foundation of G20 cooperation and a great challenge to the rule of law. I also stressed that Russia has to stop its aggression and we have to achieve a just and lasting peace in Ukraine immediately. Countries attending the meeting expressed in various wording their feeling of helplessness toward Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.

Japan intends to respond by working closely together with Brazil, the G20 Presidency this year and our “Strategic and Global Partner” with which we share common values and principles.