Foreign Secretary Luis Videgaray met with Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida today in Japan.
The two officials highlighted the excellent state of the bilateral relationship and the importance of the political dialogue between the two governments, and commented on the increased number of high-level visits, the many parliamentary contacts and the joint cooperation projects that have enhanced the strategic partnership between the two countries.
They reaffirmed their governments’ commitment to open markets and free trade, and emphasized the importance of the economic relationship. Bilateral trade exceeds USD 21.5 billion, making Japan Mexico's third-ranked trading partner worldwide. Japan is the only Asian country with which Mexico has a free trade agreement.
They also remarked on the unprecedented increase of direct investment in Mexico. Over 1,000 Japanese companies are operating in Mexico.
The two officials discussed their respective regions, with Foreign Secretary Videgaray reiterating Mexico's condemnation of North Korea's ballistic missile launches and reaffirming Mexico's solidarity with the Japanese government and people.
Lastly, they said that 2018 would mark the 130th anniversary of the Treaty of Friendship, Commerce and Navigation. Mexico was the first country to sign an agreement of that type with Japan, which heralded the beginning of a new era in the relationship between the two countries.