Japan’s foreign minister, Toshimitsu Motegi, on Friday called for stronger cooperation with Latin America and the Caribbean as “defenders of the international order” based on the rule of law, while urging closer economic ties between Japan and the region.
It is precisely “because we are like-minded partners who share principles such as freedom, openness, diversity, inclusiveness, and the rule of law, we have a role to play together in the international community,” Motegi said in a message addressed to the countries of the region and published by the Latin America and the Caribbean office of Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Japanese foreign minister, who is scheduled to visit Mexico, Panama and Ecuador in early August, said that armed conflicts in different parts of the world, combined with “economic coercion by certain countries,” the challenges posed by technological innovation and increasingly extreme weather events, underscore the need to deepen ties between Japan and Latin American nations.
Japanese foreign minister explains strategy
Motegi outlined a strategy built on three pillars, including strengthening Japan’s position as a “traditional and trustworthy partner” of the region through development cooperation tailored to each country’s needs. He said it was based on enduring diplomatic relations, mutual respect and continuous dialogue.
On the economic front, the minister said Japan would take concrete steps to ensure that both regions “grow stronger and more prosperous together,” highlighting the vast potential and countless opportunities for cooperation.
In that regard, he noted that Latin America is “rich in resources, including critical minerals and energy that underpin the sustainable growth of the global economy.” At the same time, Japan “has a proven track record of contributing to the establishment of supply chains characterized by transparency, resilience, and reliability.”
He also reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to the strategic expansion of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and to advancing new economic partnership agreements, including one with Mercosur.
Finally, in the message released by Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which has collaborated with EFE in publishing this content, Motegi stressed the importance of preserving and strengthening multilateralism and global governance, with the United Nations at its core.
The foreign minister said Japan aspires to build “stronger and more prosperous” relations with Latin America and the Caribbean, founded on shared values such as democracy, freedom and the rule of law. EFE