Japan-Peru Summit Meeting (Overview)

 
(Photos: Cabinet Public Relations Office)

The President of the Republic of Peru, Dr. Alan García, during his visit to Japan to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting, held a meeting with the Prime Minister o f Japan, Mr. Naoto Kan, on November 14 (Sun) from 5:00 to 5:20 p.m. The overview of the meeting is as follows.

1. Opening

1. (1) After thanking President García for his cooperation in APEC meetings, Prime Minister Kan stated that Japan and Peru are, in a sense, neighboring countries crossing over the Pacific Ocean, and accordingly, Japan has maintained very good relations with Peru as a bridge between Japan and many other countries in Central and South America, and that Japan wishes to continue enhancing close relations with Peru. Furthermore, Prime Minister Kan said that he was truly glad to see the conclusion of negotiations for an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between Japan and Peru; by concluding the negotiations, Japan and Peru had made a great step forward in realizing even closer bilateral relations; and that together with Peru, Japan intends to continue making efforts for the early signing and entry into force of the agreement.
2. (2) President García expressed respect for Japan's organization of APEC meetings, and stated that it was good that APEC economies had signaled a message conveying their intention to further advance and deepen economic integration with other regions.

2. Bilateral Relations

1. (1) President García explained the steps he had taken out of a strong desire to restore Japan-Peru relations, which were not necessarily positive in the political field when he assumed the office of President. President García specified that he made efforts to realize (i) close political relations, (ii) the conclusion of the Japan-Peru Investment Agreement, and (iii) EPA negotiations, which have concluded. He also indicated that there had been a strong influence of the Japanese culture in Peru, as exemplified in a great number of Japanese descendents and people with Japanese family names in the country.
2. (2) Prime Minister Kan reiterated that he strongly welcomed the conclusion of the EPA negotiations. President García stated that Peru considered its relations with Japan special, expressing his strong wish for Japanese companies to utilize the Japan-Peru EPA as they advance into other countries in Central and South America. With these remarks, the meeting was closed.

3. Signing of the Joint Statement on the Conclusion of Negotiations for an Economic Partnership Agreement between Japan and Peru

After the meeting, the leaders signed the Joint Statement on the Conclusion of Negotiations for an Economic Partnership Agreement between Japan and Peru.