Japan-Argentina Joint Statement

Argentina - Floridas News originally published at Argentina - Floridas News

Sunday, 27 November 2016
Information for the Press N°: 
423/16

H.E. Mr. Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan, paid an official visit to Argentine Republic on November 21st, 2016, at the invitation of the Argentine President, H.E. Mr. Mauricio Macri. The two leaders had a comprehensive and fruitful discussion in areas of mutual interest.

 

 

  1. Bilateral Relations

 

 

  1. As this year marks the bicentennial anniversary of the independence of Argentina and, as Argentina and Japan are going to celebrate the 120th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relationship in 2018, the two leaders recognized that the historic Japan-Argentina relations are at a juncture for further deepening in all areas of politics, economy, and cultural exchanges.

 

  1. The two leaders reaffirmed that they will further strengthen the bilateral relations based on universal values such as democracy and the rule of law and welcomed the favorable implementation of the agenda on Japan-Argentina relations presented in the Summit Meeting in April this year. Taking this opportunity, the two leaders also confirmed to closely cooperate for mutual benefits as well as in international fora from global perspectives as “strategic partners.”

 

  1. Prime Minister Abe highly commended President Macri for taking active steps for driving the country towards economic and political transformation. He recognized the President’s leadership to be extremely important for the Latin American region and the international community. Under such recognition, he underlined the intention of the Government of Japan to strongly support these policies and to support such various efforts.

 

  1. President Macri included Japan among Argentina’s priority countries to strengthen ties and noted the importance of promoting the private sector as well as boosting trade and cooperation in science, technology, and innovation, among other fields.

 

  1. The two leaders took note of the wide-ranging cooperation and exchanges already being advanced, including the visit of Their Imperial Highnesses Prince and Princess Akishino to Argentina in 2014, and they shared the intention to redouble their countries’ efforts to further strengthen the bilateral relationship.

 

  1. The two leaders attached great importance to the presence of the Japanese descendant community in Argentina, which serves as a precious bridge between the two countries, noting that this year marks the 130th anniversary of the migration of a Japanese national to Argentina.

 

  1. The two leaders, welcoming Argentina’s hosting the G20 Summit in 2018 and the 11th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC11) in December 2017, shared the view to deepen exchanges at Summit, Foreign Ministerial, and Ministerial levels, and committed to closely cooperate for the success of both events.

 

 

Political Relations

 

  1. At Prime Minister Abe’s invitation, President Macri was pleased to announce his intention to visit Japan in 2017 at an appropriate timing to be coordinated through diplomatic channels.

 

  1. The two leaders welcomed active high-level official exchanges between the two countries. In this regard, they welcomed the resumption of policy dialogues in October this year and shared the view to deepen the policy coordination by continuing to hold annual consultations in a regular manner as partners that share fundamental values. In such regard, they welcomed the signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation for the Establishment of a Reinforced Mechanism of Political Consultations during this visit.

 

 

Economic Relations

 

  1. Prime Minister Abe welcomed Argentina’s return to the international financial market as well as Argentina’s strengthened relationship with the international community.

 

  1. President Macri welcomed the improvement of Argentina’s category in the country risk classifications by the Participants to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Arrangement on Officially Supported Export Credits and expressed his appreciation to Japan for its cooperation in this regard. Prime Minister Abe welcomed Argentina’s interests towards the OECD. In this context, the Prime Minister expressed his anticipation for Argentina’s constructive role in OECD’s committees and the OECD Latin America and the Caribbean Regional Programme, as well as his wish for Argentina’s further cooperation and engagement with OECD.

 

  1. The two leaders expressed their expectation towards the promotion of trade and investment between the two countries and shared the intention of making a swift progress in the development of legal frameworks in order to strengthen bilateral economic relations. In this regard, they welcomed the initiation of the formal negotiation on the bilateral investment agreement and instructed to make an early conclusion of the negotiation on the agreement. The two leaders shared the intention to commence consultations towards the conclusion of an agreement on avoidance of double taxation to further enhance investment and economic exchanges between the two countries. They welcomed the initiation of the formal negotiation towards the conclusion of an agreement on mutual assistance in customs matters. They instructed to redouble the two countries’ efforts to progress the ongoing consultations on sanitary and phytosanitary issues based on scientific evidence and/or international standards, including recognition of all Patagonia as FMD free, market access for fresh beef and priority fresh fruits from Argentina and beef from Japan.

 

  1. The two leaders looked forward to the expansion and strengthening of economic, trade, and investment relations between the private sectors of the two countries. In that sense, they confirmed the effective implementation of the framework of public-private economic policy dialogues, launched in the Japan-Argentina Summit Meeting in April this year, as shown by the holding of: the Japan-Argentina Public Private Economic Forum (May 2016); the Dialogue for Argentine-Japanese Trade and Investment Relations (May and October 2016); the Japan-Argentina Joint Committee on Promoting Trade and Investment (August 2016); and the Seminar “Transportation Infrastructure Development and Investment Opportunities” (September 2016).

 

  1. President Macri welcomed measures to promote economic relations between the private sectors of the two countries taken by the Japanese side such as the full-fledged resumption of allowing insurance by the Nippon Export and Investment Insurance (NEXI), support in the field of agriculture and transportation infrastructure, the dispatch of an infrastructure mission to Argentina by the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) in July this year, and the resumption of the dispatch of resident JETRO staff  to Argentina. The two leaders welcomed the participation of approximately 50 Japanese companies in the Investment Forum held in Buenos Aires in September this year.  Prime Minister Abe referred to the interest of Japanese agencies such as the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), the Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC), and the Japan Overseas Infrastructure Investment Corporation for Transport and Urban Development (JOIN) in developing projects in Argentina. The two leaders welcomed the signing of the Memoranda of Cooperation by the Argentina Investment and Trade Promotion Agency with JOIN and JETRO respectively during this visit.

 

  1. President Macri welcomed the progress of investment and loans from Japan in fields such as automobiles, railways, aviation, renewable energy, agriculture and export financing. The President welcomed Japan’s initiative on quality infrastructure and expressed his strong expectation towards investment from Japan in the field of infrastructure, energy, mining, and particularly in agribusiness. The two leaders confirmed that the two countries will continue their close cooperation to promote Japan’s investment by continuing the Government of Argentina’s efforts to promote the improvement of business environment.
  2. The two leaders welcomed the initiatives of the Japan Argentina Joint Committee on Promoting Trade and Investment. They also welcomed the initiative to develop a Roadmap to strengthen Japan-Argentina trade and economic relations. They also welcomed the Japan-Argentina Joint Economic Forum and the Argentine-Japanese Joint Business Cooperation Committee held this year in Buenos Aires on November 21st with relevant participation of the business circles of the two countries.

 

  1. Prime Minister Abe appreciated Argentina’s decision to reassess import requirements  applied after the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station.

 

  1. The two leaders welcomed the commencement of the Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH), and they shared the intention to cooperate in this area.

 

  1. The two leaders confirmed the intention to consider industrial human resources development in the industrial field by utilizing the existing schemes of the Overseas Human Resources and Industry Development Association (HIDA-AOTS).

 

  1. The two leaders expressed their interest in continuing the bilateral cooperation in the field of digital terrestrial television broadcasting as well as their expectation that the bilateral partnership be expanded to cover the whole field of information and communications technology (ICT).

 

  1. Prime Minister Abe confirmed the adoption of “the Kaizen Project” to be conducted by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) by applying the Japanese management style in order to support the development of the supporting industry, including the improvement of the productivity of Argentine small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and the role of Argentina as a hub for the regional extension of the Project. President Macri welcomed the adoption of the Project. Prime Minister Abe welcomed Argentina’s interests towards the triangular cooperation, including cooperation with Africa. The two leaders instructed to continue such cooperation by the two countries.

 

  1. Prime Minister Abe expressed his intention to continue the current dialogue to strengthen economic relations with MERCOSUR, which was welcomed by President Macri.  The two leaders confirmed that the fourth Dialogue to Strengthen the Economic Relationship between MERCOSUR and Japan will be held in the first half of the year 2017, when Argentina will hold the Pro Tempore Presidency of MERCOSUR.

 

 

People-to-people Exchanges

 

  1. The two leaders shared the intention to work on strengthening cooperation between the sports authorities of the two governments, including cooperation for the 2018 Youth Olympic Games, the 2019 Rugby World Cup, and the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games. From this perspective, they welcomed the signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation between the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan and the Ministry of Education and Sports of Argentina, as well as the cooperation between the Olympic Committees of the two countries, which will contribute to further deepening sports exchanges.

 

  1. The two leaders recognized the importance of the people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and they reached a common recognition that the two countries will advance cooperation in the area of culture and promote opportunities of cooperation in various fields, including research and education, tourism, and youth exchanges. 

 

  1. The two leaders underscored the fact that more than 3,000 Argentines nationals have been trained in Japan, contributing to the development and the strengthening of the bond between the two countries. They expressed their expectation that the exchanges in the field of research and education, including academic exchanges among universities, will be further promoted.

 

  1. The two leaders confirmed the potential of the promotion of tourism of the two countries and recognized the importance of cooperation in this area. In such regard, President Macri proposed to commence consultations on an arrangement on a Working Holiday Visa.

 

 

II. Cooperation in International Fora

 

 

  1. Prime Minister Abe elaborated on Japan’s policy of “Proactive Contribution to Peace” based on the principle of international cooperation, including the “Legislation for Peace and Security,” which aims to enhance Japan’s contribution to global peace, stability and prosperity. President Macri welcomed Japan’s constructive contribution to international peace and security.

 

  1. The two leaders emphasized the importance of maintaining peace, stability, security, and freedom of navigation and overflight as well as a rules-based approach to the peaceful settlement of disputes without resorting to the threat or use of force, in accordance with the universally recognized principles of international law.

 

  1. The two leaders condemned in the strongest terms North Korea’s nuclear tests and ballistic missile launches and strongly urged North Korea to refrain from any further provocation and to comply with all relevant UN Security Council (UNSC) resolutions and other international commitments. They reaffirmed the importance of sustained and comprehensive implementation of all relevant UNSC resolutions and expressed their determination to cooperate toward the adoption of a new resolution by the UNSC with enhanced sanction measures. They also urged North Korea to resolve the abductions issue immediately.

 

  1. The two leaders confirmed to strengthen cooperation in the field of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation towards a successful outcome of the 2020 NPT (Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons) Review Conference. They also confirmed the important role played by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in strengthening the international non-proliferation regime.

 

  1. The two leaders strongly welcomed the early entry into force of the Paris Agreement and the first meeting of the Conference on the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement (CMA) in Marrakech.

 

  1. The two leaders expressed their intention to accelerate the consultation on empowerment of women so that the two countries will increase the international momentum towards promoting women’s dynamic engagement.

 

  1. The two leaders expressed their wish to continue working jointly on the issues of common interest within the G20, including those related to the future Argentine Presidency in 2018 and the German Presidency in 2017.

 

  1. They also shared the intention to collaborate towards a successful MC11 in order to further strengthen the function of WTO, reconfirming their firm commitment towards the multilateral trading system in which the WTO plays a central role.

 

Prime Minister Abe expressed his deep gratitude to President Macri for the generous hospitality and courtesies, as well as for the repeated displays of affection and friendship that were dispensed by the government and by the Argentine people during his visit. 

 

Buenos Aires, November 21st, 2016

 

 

 

Press Release No. 423/16

Press Office: 4819-7375 / 8296 / 7388

www.cancilleria.gob.ar

@CancilleriaARG



Originally published at https://www.cancilleria.gob.ar/en/news/releases/japan-argentina-joint-statement

The post Japan-Argentina Joint Statement first appeared on Floridas News.

Argentina - Floridas News originally published at Argentina - Floridas News