Top > What's up around the Prime Minister > May, 2005

Members of the Permanent Forum for Japan-Chile Relations Pay Courtesy Call on Prime Minister Wednesday, May 25, 2005 JAPANESE Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi received a courtesy call from the attendees of the first meeting of the Permanent Forum for Japan-Chile Relations and held talks with them at the Prime Minister's Official Residence. The Permanent Forum for Japan-Chile Relations was established based on an agreement reached between Prime Minister Koizumi and Mr. Ricardo Lagos Escobar, the President of the Republic of Chile, during Prime Minister Koizumi's visit to Chile in November 2004. It carries on the achievements of the 21st Century Committee for the Pacific Basin Between Japan and Latin America, Chilean Chapter, which was established in 1992. Prime Minister Koizumi met with Mr. Roberto de Andraca, the President of Pacific Steel Company, who served as Chair for the Chilean side and Mr. Terusuke Terada, the President of Foreign Press Center Japan, who served as Chair for the Japanese side, and others. The attendees remarked that the Council, on which President Lagos places great importance, intends to actively discuss the specific measures to further develop the bilateral relations and submit proposals to both governments by the target year of 2007, which marks the 110th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Chile. Furthermore, the attendees stated that they welcome the formulation of a joint study group on the economic partnership agreement (EPA) and free trade agreement (FTA) between Japan and Chile. The attendees also noted that they intend to exchange honest opinions on this and other matters at the meetings of the Council. Prime Minister Koizumi in response said, "I expect that this joint study will contribute not only to the development of Japan-Chile relations but also to the Central and South American region as a whole having a closer presence in Japan."