March 21, 2024
On March 21, commencing at 7:10 p.m., Ms. KAMIKAWA Yoko, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, held a bilateral meeting (for approximately 40 minutes) and a working dinner (for approximately 60 minutes) with H.E. Ms. Diana Elena MONDINO, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Worship of the Argentine Republic, during her visit to Japan as a guest of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. The overview is as follows.
- At the outset, Minister Kamikawa, welcoming Minister Mondino’s first visit to Japan, stated that Argentina is a strategic partner for Japan that shares values and principles, and expressed her desire to further deepen the friendly relationship of more than 125 years between the two countries, which is also connected by the ties through the Nikkei community of approximately 65,000. In response, Minister Mondino, expressing her appreciation for the invitation extended by the Government of Japan, stated that she was pleased to have an opportunity to visit Japan for the first time and that she hoped to make use of this visit to strengthen the good bilateral relations further.
- Minister Kamikawa valued economic reforms promoted by President Javier Milei’s Administration, which took office in December last year, and stated that Japan hopes to nurture along with Argentina the “Diplomatic Initiative toward Latin America and the Caribbean” announced in February, and is willing to support Argentina’s sustainable growth through such assistance as development cooperation. Minister Kamikawa also expressed Japan’s high appreciation for triangular cooperation of the past more than 20 years and Japan’s intention to promote the cooperative relationship further in order to contribute to the development of Latin America and the Caribbean together with Argentina. Moreover, Minister Kamikawa expressed Japan’s support to the Government of Argentina’s strong commitment towards joining the OECD. In response, Minister Mondino appreciated Japan’s cooperation for Argentina, and expressed Argentina’s strong interest in inviting further investments from Japan to the country which has various resources and potentials. Minister Kamikawa expressed Japan’s expectations for the early completion of domestic procedures towards the entry into force of the investment agreement and the tax convention, and for an improvement of the business environment in Argentina in order to facilitate Japanese companies’ operations and promote their investments. Furthermore, the two ministers exchanged opinions with a view to developing areas of cooperation, in addition to conventional ones, such as science and technology fields including space and nuclear energy, for the future of both countries. The two ministers affirmed the progress in people-to-people exchanges in the field of sports, music, and culture.
- The two ministers exchanged views on cooperation in the international arena such as the situation in Latin America and the Caribbean. They shared views that cooperation among like-minded countries which share values and principles is more important than ever to lead the international community toward cooperation, not division and confrontation. In addition, Minister Kamikawa mentioned her efforts to promote WPS (Women, Peace and Security) strongly as one of the major diplomatic initiatives.
- During the meeting, in appreciation for the messages of sympathy from Argentina for the damage caused by the Noto Peninsula Earthquake and in hope for the recovery of the affected areas, Minister Kamikawa presented a Kutani-yaki tea set and offered dishes made with ingredients from the Hokuriku region. Minister Mondino expressed her gratitude for the heartfelt hospitality.
