Colombia’s President Juan Manuel Santos and Japan’s Primer Minister Yoshihiko Noda signed an investment protection agreement Monday.
According to Santos, who is in Japan to improve economic ties with one of Asia’s largest economies, the signed Promotion and Reciprocal Protection of Investments Agreement between the two countries is a step towards an Economic Cooperation Agreement that is to further strengthen bilateral trade between Colombia and Japan.
“These two acts, the signing of the investment protection treaty and the beginning of the process towards an economic cooperation agreement means a lot to Colombia and is part of our approach to Asia,” Santos said in Tokyo.
According to Noda, “the combined labor of Japan and Colombia does not only benefit the two countries, but the Asian-Pacific region as a whole.”
The Colombian President said his government and that of Noda were also looking into possibilities to work together in regards to environmental issues, human rights and democracy.
Santos on Monday also met with representatives of Japan’s economic sector.