Press Releases

1. Minister Kishida referred to the fact that Japan participated in the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP) last year as an observer with the support of Portugal, and stated that collaboration with Portugal, the leader of the Portuguese language countries, was important to Japan and expressed his desire to strengthen the bilateral relationship on the basis of the exchange that lasts more than 470 years.

In response, Minister Machete expressed his feelings of welcome for the progress in the bilateral relationship, and stated his desire to substantiate cooperation in a wide range of areas, utilizing CPLP.

2. Minister Kishida explained that Japan was preparing national security legislation under the policy of “Proactive Contribution to Peace”, and expressed his hope to promote cooperation in the security and self-defense areas as a maritime nation. The two ministers also shared the view that they would cooperate in the run-up to the Review Conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), which would be convened at the end of April of this year, the 70th anniversary of the dropping of the atomic bombs.

3. In addition, the two ministers confirmed their cooperation on the fight against terrorism and toward agreement in principle by the end of 2015 on the outlines of the Japan-EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), and had an exchange of opinions on such matters as the EU’s import restrictions on food from Fukushima Prefecture, cultural exchanges such as the exhibit of historical records being conducted by the diplomatic archives of the two countries, and the World Assembly for Women in Tokyo 2015 to be held this August.