Colombian Foreign Minister Jaime Bermúdez and Japanese Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada,had a meeting on January 17th, 2010.

With the certainty that Colombia was able to take steps towards potential commercial and investment agreements with Japan, and that Asian nations recognize and appreciate the interest of the country in becoming closer to the region, Foreign Minister of Colombia, Jaime Bermúdez, ended his visit to Tokyo last January.

Colombian Foreing Minister, Jaime Bermudez,  visited Japan from January 14th to 17th , to participate in the Forum for East Asia-Latin America Cooperation`s, FEALAC.

Minister Bermudez started his visist to Japan on January 14th to participate in the IV FEALAC Ministerial Meeting. With Colombia´s active participation in this forum, the country made evident once more its interest in participating in different organizations that will allow it to be inserted in the Asian Pacific region.

In addition of having a meeting with Japanese Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada, he also had talks with other high officials and members of the Japanese private sector.
Minister Okada not only said that Japan in willing to keep offering cooperation to Colombia but was very receptive regarding the negotiations of an Investment Agreement, currently in an advanced stage, and the potential negotiations of a Double Taxation Agreement and an Economic Partnership Agreement.

The Japanese vice minister of Finance, Naoki Minezaki, and Foreign Minister Bermudez had a meeting. Colombian Ambassador to Japan, Patricia Cardenas, is present.

JICA´s president, Sadako Ogata, Foreign Minister Bermudez and Colombian Ambassador to Japan had a meeting in January 16th, 2010.

Foreign Minister Bermudez also had meetings with with Japanese Vice minister of Finance, Naoki Minezaki; with the president of the Japan International Cooperation Agency, JICA, Sadako Ogata; and with Hiroshi Saito, president of Mizuho Bank, which has supported investment projects in Colombia from 1973.

Following Japanese traditions, Minister Jaime Bermudez exchanges presentation cards with Mizuho Bank president, Hiroshi Saito.

Additionally, Minister Bermudez explained to Japanese investors regarding  the advances in terms of security Colombia has experienced and the advantages it offers to investments during a seminar in the Keidanren offices in Tokyo. Its president, Yoriko Kojima, Mitsubishi´s CEO and who has visited Colombian in different ocassions, moderated the seminar and reiterated the message of security given by Bermudez.

Keidanren president, Yorihiko Kojima, talks to Foreign Minister Bermudez before the seminar about Colombia. 

During his visit to Japan, Colombian Minister also had the opportunity to meet with Foreing Ministers or high official of other Asian nations. He had meetings with the Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi; the New Zealand`s Sub secretary of International Relations, Tony Browne; the Australian vice minister of International Relations, Robert Francis (Bob) McMullan; the Brunei Darussalam´s Minister of International Relations and Trade, Princes Mohamed Bolkiah; and the Philippines Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Alberto Gatmaitan Romulo.
In the meetings, Minister Bermudez reiterated the country´s intention of joining the Asian Pacific Economic Forum, APEC, once the moratorium is lifted.