Countries & Regions
16th Japan-Spain Symposium
October 4, 2013
On October 3, the 16th Japan-Spain Symposium was held in Tokyo. An overview and results of the symposium are as follows:
1. Overview of the Symposium
（プログラム（PDF）
，出席者一覧（PDF） ）
(1) Characteristics of the symposium
The symposium was held as part of the opening events in Japan to celebrate the “400th Anniversary of Japan-Spain Relations,” which started from the dispatching of the Keicho Mission to Europe in 1613. Mr. Mariano Rajoy Brey, President of the Government of Spain, who was on an official working visit to Japan also on the occasion of the 400th anniversary event, attended the opening ceremony and delivered a speech. From the Japanese side, Mr. Fumio Kishida, Minister for Foreign Affairs, delivered an opening speech. Themes of the symposium were set from a viewpoint of what types of cooperation could Japan and Spain achieve in order to realize the sustainable growth of both countries and, as a result, contribute to the revitalization and stability of the global economy. Specifically, two themes, “Cooperation in science and technology for innovation” and “Cooperation in the market of developing countries,” were set and active discussions were held.
(2) Opening ceremony
（岸田外務大臣冒頭挨拶（PDF） ） At the opening ceremony, President Rajoy, Mr. Fumio Kishida, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Shinichi Yokoyama, chairman of the Japanese side (co-chairman of the Committee on Europe of KEIDANREN (Japan Business Federation)) and Mr. Gonzalo de Benito, acting chairman of the Spanish side (Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation) delivered opening speeches. Minister Kishida stated in his speech that “innovation” and “market of developing countries,” which are the themes of the symposium, are fields in which cooperation between Japan and Spain can have great potential and therefore he expected deepening of cooperation in the future. Minister Kishida also expressed his expectation that at the same time, he would like to further increase the attraction (brand power) of Spain for Japan through enhancement of such cooperation.
(3) Round table: Theme 1 “Innovation as driving force of growth: Cooperation in science and technology between Japan and Spain at present and in the future”
Keynote Lecture: Prof. Carmen Vera, State Secretary for Research, Development and Innovation of Spain
Based on the analysis of advantages of Japan and Spain in the field of science and technology, which is the key for realizing sustainable growth for both Japan and Spain, discussions were held to specify a field in which bilateral cooperation would be available in the near future.
In the discussion, strengthening of industry-government-academia coordination, activation of exchanges between concerned organizations of the two countries, and fostering and exchanges of younger personnel were suggested as specific measures for progress of such cooperation.
(4) Luncheon hosted by Mr. Nobuo Kishi, Parliamentary Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs （副大臣冒頭挨拶（PDF） ）
(5) Round table: Theme 2 “Cooperation in the market of developing countries”
Keynote lecture: Mr. Satoshi Miyamoto, Executive Vice-President of Japan External Trade Organization
Based on the recognition that it is crucial to take in the vitality of the market of developing countries for the economic growth of Japan and Spain, discussions were held on what type of coordination should be made between the two countries in the market of the developing countries, mainly on the cooperation between enterprises of the two countries.
In the discussions, various proposals were made such as which genre is appropriate for the coordination between enterprises, what is the most effective combination of advantages of Japan and Spain and in which region such combinations can be effective, and what kind of measures are required of the governments to enhance such cooperation between enterprises.
(6) Adoption of the final recommendation 最終提言書（日本語（PDF）／スペイン語（PDF））
On the basis of such discussions, the “Final Recommendation,”（PDF） which proposes specific actions to the governments and business communities of the two countries, was finally adopted in the joint names of the chairmen of the two countries.
2. Significance and Results
(1) This symposium was very timely as President Rajoy, who has been carrying out structural reform for the revitalization of economy, attended and suggested how new ways of bilateral cooperation along with the growth strategy of Japan, which set its new growth strategy in June and began to start for the implementation of the strategy, should be. Therefore, this symposium can be the first step toward development of the new horizon of bilateral relations.
(2) It is not yet widely known in Japan that Spain is one of the most advanced countries of the world in fields such as medicine, renewable energy, and infrastructure, which are priorities of the growth strategy of Japan. It is expected that such “strengths” of Spain will be widely recognized in Japan on the occasion of this symposium and the momentum of cooperation with Spain as “a reliable friend of Japan’s” will be enhanced more.
(3) Spain, the fifth largest country of the EU, is deeply related with Latin America, which is a promising market, via Spanish, the world’s second most spoken language. Japan also has deep relations with Latin America through a long history of immigrants and has already concluded economic partnership agreements (EPA) with three countries in the region. Defining Latin America as a field of economic cooperation between Japan and Spain was an epoch-making decision as Europe and Latin America are related in a multifaceted manner from a global viewpoint in the diplomatic policies of the Government of Japan.
1. Overview of the Symposium
（プログラム（PDF）
，出席者一覧（PDF） ） (1) Characteristics of the symposium
The symposium was held as part of the opening events in Japan to celebrate the “400th Anniversary of Japan-Spain Relations,” which started from the dispatching of the Keicho Mission to Europe in 1613. Mr. Mariano Rajoy Brey, President of the Government of Spain, who was on an official working visit to Japan also on the occasion of the 400th anniversary event, attended the opening ceremony and delivered a speech. From the Japanese side, Mr. Fumio Kishida, Minister for Foreign Affairs, delivered an opening speech. Themes of the symposium were set from a viewpoint of what types of cooperation could Japan and Spain achieve in order to realize the sustainable growth of both countries and, as a result, contribute to the revitalization and stability of the global economy. Specifically, two themes, “Cooperation in science and technology for innovation” and “Cooperation in the market of developing countries,” were set and active discussions were held.
(2) Opening ceremony
（岸田外務大臣冒頭挨拶（PDF）
） At the opening ceremony, President Rajoy, Mr. Fumio Kishida, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Shinichi Yokoyama, chairman of the Japanese side (co-chairman of the Committee on Europe of KEIDANREN (Japan Business Federation)) and Mr. Gonzalo de Benito, acting chairman of the Spanish side (Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation) delivered opening speeches. Minister Kishida stated in his speech that “innovation” and “market of developing countries,” which are the themes of the symposium, are fields in which cooperation between Japan and Spain can have great potential and therefore he expected deepening of cooperation in the future. Minister Kishida also expressed his expectation that at the same time, he would like to further increase the attraction (brand power) of Spain for Japan through enhancement of such cooperation. (3) Round table: Theme 1 “Innovation as driving force of growth: Cooperation in science and technology between Japan and Spain at present and in the future”
Keynote Lecture: Prof. Carmen Vera, State Secretary for Research, Development and Innovation of Spain
Based on the analysis of advantages of Japan and Spain in the field of science and technology, which is the key for realizing sustainable growth for both Japan and Spain, discussions were held to specify a field in which bilateral cooperation would be available in the near future.
In the discussion, strengthening of industry-government-academia coordination, activation of exchanges between concerned organizations of the two countries, and fostering and exchanges of younger personnel were suggested as specific measures for progress of such cooperation.
(4) Luncheon hosted by Mr. Nobuo Kishi, Parliamentary Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs （副大臣冒頭挨拶（PDF）
） (5) Round table: Theme 2 “Cooperation in the market of developing countries”
Keynote lecture: Mr. Satoshi Miyamoto, Executive Vice-President of Japan External Trade Organization
Based on the recognition that it is crucial to take in the vitality of the market of developing countries for the economic growth of Japan and Spain, discussions were held on what type of coordination should be made between the two countries in the market of the developing countries, mainly on the cooperation between enterprises of the two countries.
In the discussions, various proposals were made such as which genre is appropriate for the coordination between enterprises, what is the most effective combination of advantages of Japan and Spain and in which region such combinations can be effective, and what kind of measures are required of the governments to enhance such cooperation between enterprises.
(6) Adoption of the final recommendation 最終提言書（日本語（PDF）
／スペイン語（PDF）） On the basis of such discussions, the “Final Recommendation,”（PDF）
which proposes specific actions to the governments and business communities of the two countries, was finally adopted in the joint names of the chairmen of the two countries. 2. Significance and Results
(1) This symposium was very timely as President Rajoy, who has been carrying out structural reform for the revitalization of economy, attended and suggested how new ways of bilateral cooperation along with the growth strategy of Japan, which set its new growth strategy in June and began to start for the implementation of the strategy, should be. Therefore, this symposium can be the first step toward development of the new horizon of bilateral relations.
(2) It is not yet widely known in Japan that Spain is one of the most advanced countries of the world in fields such as medicine, renewable energy, and infrastructure, which are priorities of the growth strategy of Japan. It is expected that such “strengths” of Spain will be widely recognized in Japan on the occasion of this symposium and the momentum of cooperation with Spain as “a reliable friend of Japan’s” will be enhanced more.
(3) Spain, the fifth largest country of the EU, is deeply related with Latin America, which is a promising market, via Spanish, the world’s second most spoken language. Japan also has deep relations with Latin America through a long history of immigrants and has already concluded economic partnership agreements (EPA) with three countries in the region. Defining Latin America as a field of economic cooperation between Japan and Spain was an epoch-making decision as Europe and Latin America are related in a multifaceted manner from a global viewpoint in the diplomatic policies of the Government of Japan.