Foreign Secretary Patricia Espinosa Meets with the Speaker of the Japanese House of Representatives, Takahiro Yokomichi

Wednesday, September 8 | Press Release #283 | Mexico City

The Foreign Ministry reports that Foreign Secretary Patricia Espinosa met today with the Speaker of the House of Representatives of Japan, Takahiro Yokomichi, who is making a working visit to Mexico. The meeting was also attended by the Vice-Chairman of the House of Councillors, Hidehisa Otsuji, and two other members of that House.

During the meeting, Foreign Secretary Patricia Espinosa and Rep. Yokomichi applauded the excellent dialogue that Mexico and Japan have developed between many different actors, including the three branches of government, civil society and the private sector. They also agreed on the importance of strengthening their strategic partnership, a process in which parliamentary diplomacy plays an important role.

The Foreign Ministry and the Speaker of the House of Representatives also stressed the active participation of the Mexican and Japanese parliaments in the events commemorating the 400th anniversary of the first contact between both peoples.

Mr. Yokomichi remarked on the fact that he and his Mexican counterparts had planted some cherry trees donated by Japan at the Chamber of Deputies as part of the 400th anniversary celebrations.

Lastly, the Foreign Secretary and the Japanese parliamentarian noted the similarities between Mexico and Japan on various global issues such as climate change and the international economic situation.

Foreign Secretary Espinosa expressed her confidence that Japan will participate actively in the 16th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP16) and the 6th Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol, which will be held in Cancun in November and December.