Press Releases
Working Dinner between Mr. Taro Kono, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan and
Mr. Roberto Azevêdo, Director-General, WTO
November 7, 2018
On November 7, commencing at around 7:10 p.m. for approximately 70 minutes, Mr. Taro Kono, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, held a working dinner with Mr. Roberto Azevêdo, Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), who is visiting Japan. The overview is as follows.
- Mr. Taro Kono, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, stated that, given unprecedented challenges surrounding international trade, it is imperative to uphold and promote free, open, and rules-based trade in the world, and the true value of the multilateral trading system is tested. Mr. Taro Kono also stated that Japan was determined to play a leading role in the multilateral trading system through its efforts addressing reform of the WTO, in close cooperation with the WTO.
- In response, concerning the current situation surrounding world trade, Director-General Azevêdo expressed his appreciation for the role that Japan has been playing in upholding and enhancing the multilateral trading system. Director-General Azevêdo also stated that the WTO will further intensify cooperation with Japan.