Press Releases
Courtesy call on Foreign Minister Kamikawa by the Ambassadors of Group of Latin America and the Caribbean (GRULAC) Countries to Japan
November 30, 2023
On November 30, 2023, for approximately 60 minutes, from 3:15 p.m., Ms. KAMIKAWA Yoko, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, received a courtesy call from the ambassadors of Latin American and Caribbean Countries (GRULAC) to Japan. The overview of the courtesy call is as follows.
- At the outset, Minister Kamikawa expressed her gratitude to the Ambassadors of GRULAC for their understanding on Japan’s foreign policy. She stated that Japan would like to further promote mutual understanding and policy coordination, bearing in mind that the next year will see the APEC and the G20 presidencies in Peru and Brazil, respectively, and will also celebrate the "Japan-Caricom Friendship Year". In response, the GRULAC Ambassadors showed their gratitude for the opportunity to exchange views and also expressed their congratulations on Minister Kamikawa’s assumption of office as Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan. They also welcomed that Japan-LAC (Latin America and the Caribbean) relations are evolving in many fields, based on long-standing cooperation and trust. They also expressed their hope that the relations will be further strengthened through high level visits, taking advantage of the opportunities such as G20 and APEC next year.
- Furthermore, Minister Kamikawa mentioned that amidst the increasingly severe international situation, Japan would lead the international community towards cooperation, rather than division and confrontation, in order to achieve “A World Caring for Human Dignity”. To this end, she stated that Japan hoped to strengthen cooperation with LAC on the following points: 1) Maintaining and strengthening the free and open international order based on the rule of law; 2) Overcoming common challenges that human face such as energy and environmental issues; and 3) Pursuing economic prosperity.
- In addition, Minister Kamikawa stated that Japan expects a greater role by LAC in addressing the serious challenges which the international community is facing, such as those in the Middle East, Ukraine, and North Korea including the abductions issue. She also referred to Japan's efforts towards the realization of "a world without nuclear weapons" and “Women, Peace, and Security (WPS)”, and expressed that Japan would like to cooperate with LAC in these areas as well. In response, the GRULAC ambassadors praised Japan's efforts in these areas and their willingness to address various global challenges and to promote Japan-LAC cooperation in the international fora as well.
- Minister Kamikawa explained the discharge of the ALPS treated water from the Fukushima Daichi Nuclear Power Station into the sea. GRULAC ambassadors expressed their support for Japan’s efforts redoubled in a transparent and sincere manner, and the Reconstruction of Fukushima.
- The both sides expressed that today’s meeting was meaningful and concurred in meeting again to further cultivate Japan-LAC relations, bearing in mind the possibility of visiting the region next year with the belief that the human relations are at the core of diplomacy.