Countries & Regions

On Tuesday, November 5, Mr. Shinzo Abe, the Prime Minister, held a summit meeting with the Most Honourable Portia Simpson-Miller, Prime Minister of Jamaica, who was on her working visit to Japan. An overview of the meeting is as follows:

 

1. General Overview 

(1) Prime Minister Abe welcomed the visit to Japan by Prime Minister Simpson-Miller prior to next year’s 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Jamaica. Prime Minister Abe further stated that he would like to further develop this relation as the two countries shared fundamental values such as democracy and the rule of law, and also constructed friendly and cooperative relations as island and maritime countries over a long period of time.

(2) Expressing gratitude for the hospitality by the Government of Japan, Prime Minister Simpson-Miller stated her wish to reaffirm the 50-years of historically friendly relations and congratulated Japan on its selection as host of the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

 

2. Bilateral relations and cooperation in international arenas

(1) Prime Minister Simpson-Miller expressed her gratitude for the cooperation Japan has extended thus far, and expressed her hope that high-level dialogues will continue and cultural exchanges will be strengthened. Prime Minister Simpson-Miller also expressed her hope that investment from Japan will be increased and trade will be diversified, emphasizing the importance of private sector-driven economic growth. Moreover, Prime Minister Simpson-Miller showed her expectation toward Japan’s expertise in such field as renewable energy, energy saving, and development of mineral resources. In addition, Prime Minister Simpson-Miller also showed her expectation toward success of the economic revitalization strategy that Prime Minister Abe promotes, stating that the strategies are also important for the revitalization of the international economy.

In response, Prime Minister Abe stated that the Government of Japan would continue its support to Jamaica, strengthen mutually beneficial economic relations, and further enhance human and cultural exchanges.

(2) Prime Minister Simpson-Miller stated that as a small island country in the Caribbean, Jamaica would like to request a review of traditional income-level categories for assistance, taking into account the vulnerability of small island countries. In response, Prime Minister Abe stated that measures against the internal disparities and vulnerability were also important factors to be coped with and therefore would seriously consider the issue, taking into account the requests and concerns of Jamaica and other countries.

(3) The two Prime Ministers shared the view that they would cooperate toward the successful celebration of the Japan-CARICOM Friendship Year and the Fourth Japan-Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Ministerial-Level Conference in 2014.

(4) In addition the two leaders also shared the view that they would cooperate in the international arenas as well, in such fields as the United Nations Security Council reform, post-2015 development agenda, and climate change. 

(5) In closing, Prime Minister Simpson-Miller extended an invitation for the Prime Minister of Japan to visit Jamaica, in response to which Prime Minister Abe stated that he would consider the kind offer.

 

3. Following the summit meeting, a Joint Statement was signed by the two prime Ministers and in the presence of the two Prime Ministers, an “Agreement on Technical Cooperation between Japan and Jamaica” was signed by Mr. Yasuo Takase, Ambassador of Japan to Jamaica, and Mr. Clement Philip Ricardo Allicock, Ambassador of Jamaica to Japan. Subsequently, the two Prime Ministers discussed various issues such as sports, education, and investment over dinner.