Bolivia–Japan relations
Bilateral relations
Bolivia–Japan relations are the diplomatic relations between Bolivia and Japan . Both nations enjoy friendly relations, the importance of which centers on the history of Japanese migration to Bolivia. Approximately 14,000 Bolivians have Japanese ancestry. [1] Both nations are members of the Forum of East Asia–Latin America Cooperation .
History
The first known Japanese migrants to arrive to Bolivia was in 1899 when ninety-one Japanese laborers entered the country from Peru to work on rubber plantations in Bolivia. [2] For the next several decades, several thousands Japanese migrants immigrated to Bolivia for employment opportunities. Most of the Japanese migrants settled in the Beni and Santa Cruz Departments. [2] On 3 April 1914, Bolivia and Japan established diplomatic relations. [3]
During World War II , Bolivia broke diplomatic relations with Japan. With the exception of twenty-nine deportees to the United States , World War II had little impact on the lives of Nikkei residents in Bolivia, especially since the government did not adopt anti-Japanese measures. [2] On 20 December 1952, relations were re-established between both nations. [3]
In 1954, several Japanese residents from the U.S.-controlled Okinawa were resettled to Bolivia. The necessity of transplanting surplus populations from war-torn Japan met the Bolivian government's desire to develop the eastern lower lands in Santa Cruz Department. [2] The new settlers laid down the foundation of a "New Okinawa", called Colonia Okinawa , near the city of Santa Cruz de la Sierra . [4]
In 1991, Bolivian President Jaime Paz Zamora became the first Bolivian head-of-state to visit Japan. [5] In 1999, Japanese Princess Sayako Kuroda paid a visit to Bolivia to commemorate the centenary of Japanese immigration to Bolivia. [3] In 2009, Japanese Prince Hitachi paid a visit to Bolivia to commemorate the 110th anniversary of Japanese immigration to Bolivia. Prince Hitachi also paid a visit to the town of New Okinawa. [3] The Japan International Cooperation Agency has an office in Bolivia and oversees several development projects in the country. [6]
High-level visits
High-level visits from Bolivia to Japan [7] [5]
- President Jaime Paz Zamora (1991)
- President Gonzalo Sánchez de Lozada (1996)
- President Evo Morales (2007, 2010)
High-level visits from Japan to Bolivia [3]
- Princess Sayako Kuroda (1999)
- Prince Hitachi (2009)
- Princess Mako of Akishino (2019)
Bilateral agreements
Both nations have signed bilateral agreements such as: Agreement for Japanese immigration to Bolivia (1956); Agreement for the Cooperation of Japanese volunteers in Bolivia (1977) and an Agreement of Technical Cooperation (1978). [3]
Trade
In 2017, trade between Bolivia and Japan totaled US$913 million. [8] Bolivia's main exports to Japan include: zinc, silver, iron, sesame seeds, coffee, sugar and quinoa. Japan's main exports to Bolivia include: automobiles, automobiles parts, machinery, electrical equipment and motorcycles. [8] Japanese multinational company Sumitomo Group operates in Bolivia.
Resident diplomatic missions
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/50/32_Shibakoen_Building.jpg/220px-32_Shibakoen_Building.jpg)
- Bolivia has an embassy in Tokyo . [9]
- Japan has an embassy in La Paz and a consular office in Santa Cruz de la Sierra . [10]
See also
References
- ↑ Visit to Japan by Mr. Juan Evo Morales Ayma, President of the Republic of Bolivia
- 1 2 3 4 Bolivia - Migration Historical Overview
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Relaciones políticas entre Bolivia y Japón (in Spanish)
- ↑ Okinawa, Bolivia
- 1 2 Las relaciones de Bolivia con los paises de Asia-Pacifico (in Spanish)
- ↑ Modalidades de la cooperación japonesa en Bolivia (in Spanish)
- ↑ Presidente Morales inicia visita oficial a Japón (in Spanish)
- 1 2 Relaciones comerciales (in Spanish)
- ↑ Embassy of Bolivia in Tokyo
- ↑ Embassy of Japan in La Paz
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