Japan-Chile Summit Meeting (Overview)

(a) He welcomed President Lagos' visit to Japan and expressed delight that the exchange of dignitaries between the two countries, such as the visit to Japan by Chilean Minister for Foreign Relations Maria Soledad Alvear Valenzuela in November 2002, was becoming lively.

(b) He expressed respect for the fact that, while the political and economic situation in the Latin American region was fluid, political and economic conditions in Chile were very stable thanks to the President's leadership.

(c) He stated that Japan's relations with Chile, which occupies an important position among the Latin American countries, were important, so therefore he wanted to continue to promote cooperative relations.

(a) He explained that he was visiting Japan this time together with cabinet ministers, senators, and dignitaries from academic and business circles.

(b) He said that the objective of the visit to Japan this time was to further strengthen cooperative relations with Japan, which were already sound in various fields including politics, trade, and culture.

(c) He noted that, as Prime Minister Koizumi had said, the exchange of dignitaries between the two countries was becoming lively, such as the visits to Japan in 2002 by the Chilean foreign minister, President of the Senate, and agricultural minister, and that since the convention of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) would be held in Chile in April of this year, he looked forward to visits by Japanese Diet members and others on that occasion.

(d) He said that it would be meaningful, by utilizing this visit, to deepen bilateral relations, including economic relations such as trade and investment. He also pointed out that among the countries of Latin America, Chile is extremely stable, has achieved economic growth, is orderly, and more importantly, is devoting much effort to world trade, with the trade figure now accounting for 60% of its gross national product (GNP).

Prime Minister Koizumi then referred to the fact that Chile would chair the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in 2004 and said that he wanted to further deepen political and economic relations between Japan and Chile. He noted that the issuing of a statement on North Korea at the 2002 APEC summit had been one of the major results. Stating that the international community also should deal with various issues relating to international issues, including the problem of Iraq and nuclear development by North Korea, he said that Japan and Chile should strengthen their cooperation in the international arena.

In response, regarding the problem of North Korea, President Lagos stated that the Chilean government had just lodged a protest to the North Korean government against its nuclear development and that Chile shares Japan's concern, because not only Iraq but also the North Korea problem exerts a negative impact on the world.

(a) Japan-Chile Partnership Program
Prime Minister Koizumi said it was pleasing that a document would be signed between the governments of the two countries on the continuation of the Japan-Chile Partnership Program (JCPP) and expressed satisfaction with the results that the two countries had achieved so far in the JCPP framework. He said that Japan wanted to develop further cooperation also as a means of contributing to the strengthening of bilateral relations.

In response, President Lagos stated that Chile also was satisfied with the results of the JCPP in the three years from 1999 and that he hoped for good results in the next three years, too. He added that it was a good thing for Japan and Chile to cooperate in providing assistance in a third country such as Bolivia.

(b) The Center of Investigation and Application of ICT (Information and Communication Technology) in Valparaiso (CITIC)
President Lagos stated that, in Chile at the moment, a lot of effort is being put into the information technology field and that the Chilean government, in cooperation with the private sector, would continue building an IT environment.

In response, Prime Minister Koizumi explained that Japan was also putting much effort into IT and that this year is the second year in its five-year strategy to install the most advanced IT in the world. He announced that Japan would extend support to the Center of Investigation and Application of ICT in Valparaiso, Chile. He expressed the hope that this center will contribute to the diffusion of IT not only in Chile but also in the other countries of Latin America and that Chile will become the IT core of the Latin American region.

In response, President Lagos explained that already 70% of schools in Chile had Internet access and expressed his hope that Japanese companies would set up operations there with the idea of using Chile as a platform. He said that he wanted to develop the center in Valparaiso as a core for the Latin American region.

(c) Cultural and Academic Exchange
Prime Minister Koizumi said that Japan wanted to promote cooperative relations with Chile not only in the economic field but also on the cultural side, too. He welcomed the success of the "Japan's Chair", which was launched after a proposal by the Japan-Chile 21st Century Committee. President Lagos stated that on the cultural side also, the two countries, as members of the same Asia-Pacific region, should deepen their understanding of the roots of each other's culture.

(d) Other Issues (including the Expo 2005 Aichi)
Prime Minister Koizumi said that Japan wanted to increase the number of foreign companies operating in Japan, if possible doubling the number by around 2010. In response, President Lagos expressed agreement with this aim and explained that Chile did not discriminate between domestic and foreign companies and that this was a reason for Chile's successful economic growth. He also noted that Chilean companies were investing abroad, mainly in Latin America. However, he added, the world situation recently is becoming increasingly complicated, and the Iraq problem in particular is creating conditions that make it difficult to conduct investment.

Prime Minister Koizumi also explained that the number of people traveling from Japan to other countries had increased over the last decade from 5 million to 16 million and that, in the next decade, Japan wanted to double the number of foreigners coming to Japan, which at present stands at less than 5 million a year.

Prime Minister Koizumi also referred to the Expo 2005 Aichi, which will be held in Aichi Prefecture in 2005, and urged Chile also to participate. In response, President Lagos said that he wanted to reach a conclusion on whether or not to participate in the exposition soon. Chile would certainly like to participate, he said, but it is necessary to clear economic problems. He said that Chile fully understood the significance and importance of the exposition.