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On February 23, 2018, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe hosted a summit meeting and other events with H.E. Ms. Michelle Bachelet Jeria, President of the Republic of Chile, at the Prime Minister’s Office.

The two leaders attended a salute and guard of honor ceremony, followed by a summit meeting. Thereafter, the leaders held a signing ceremony and joint press announcement.

Lastly, the Prime Minister hosted a dinner banquet at the Prime Minister’s Official Residence and said in his address,

“I would like to once again offer my heartfelt welcome to President Bachelet on her visit to Japan. When I visited Chile four years ago, I was moved by the beauty of the snow-covered mountains of the Andes. I hope that President Bachelet will also enjoy Japan to the fullest during her visit.

Last year, Japan and Chile celebrated the 120th anniversary of diplomatic relations, and our bonds stretch beyond the Japanese Chilean community in Chile.

For instance, over half of the salmon imported to Japan is from Chile. Salmon is not indigenous to the country. I am happy to say that technical cooperation done by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) played no small part in contributing to salmon aquaculture development in Chile. I think that we can truly call this a win-win cooperation.

While I was in Chile, I had an opportunity to attend the opening ceremony for a new copper mine. Chile is now the world’s largest producer of copper and the largest supplier to Japan. If we were to trace back the materials used for the ten-yen coins we use every day, we may find that a considerable proportion of those materials come from Chile.

Among Japanese households, Chile is above all famous for its delicious wine. In 2015, Chile surpassed France and became No. 1 in terms of the number of wine bottles imported into Japan. I cannot say this in front of the President of France.

In these ways, our two countries have exchanges in a wide range of fields. We have invited leading figures across the country to today’s banquet, all of whom are supporting these kinds of wonderful cordial relations between our two countries in a variety of fields, including politics, the economy, and culture. I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude for your support, and request your continued engagement in the deepening of our bilateral relationship.

I would now like to give a toast to the good health of President Bachelet and everyone with us today, as well as the further development of our bilateral relations. Salud.”