Chilean President Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle and Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto agreed Sept. 1 to cooperate in promoting economic aid to third countries in Central America and the Caribbean, Foreign Ministry officials said.
Hashimoto proposed the cooperation and Frei accepted, saying that Japan's experience in extending aid to neighboring countries is beneficial, the officials said. Details will be discussed at working-level meetings, and an agreement will be concluded hopefully by the end of the year, the officials said.
Frei is on a five-day visit to Japan that started Aug. 30 to celebrate the centennial anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties. Frei told Hashimoto that Chile sees Japan as the most important nation in the Asia-Pacific region and wants to develop friendlier ties, officials said.