Spain, Japan tackle economic, political ties

Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida discussed on Wednesday with Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy ways of bolstering economic and political ties between the two countries. A Spanish cabinet statement said that the two sides tackled previous agreements signed last October between the two countries, in addition to discussing the global economic situation and ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation with the countries of Latin America. The Japanese minister is scheduled to meet with Spanish King Juan Carlos later in the day, after a meeting yesterday with Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo. Kishida also explained to Garcia-Margallo the government's security policy, including the recently adopted national security strategy, noting that ties with Europe and Spain are important in pursuing the policy. The visit also marks 400 years since the launch of the first diplomatic mission in Japan to Spain in 1613.