On December 18, Mr. Yoshihiko Noda, President of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, received a courtesy call from Mr. Íñigo de Palacio España, Ambassador of Spain to Japan.

Also present were Mr. Shu Sakurai, Deputy Director of the International Department; Mr. Kosuke Shimono, Assistant to the Director of the International Department; and Ms. Pilar Cuadra, Political Counsellor from the Spanish Embassy.

At the outset, Ambassador de Palacio referred to his visit to Onjuku Town in Chiba Prefecture, which has a historical episode of rescuing Spanish sailors from a shipwreck during the Edo period. He expressed his appreciation for the devoted actions of Onjuku residents and stated that he hopes to further deepen friendly relations with Japan.

President Noda expressed his gratitude for the 400-year-old episode involving his home prefecture of Chiba and Spain, and also said that Spain is a country he likes, having visited it on his honeymoon. He then asked, in the field of diplomacy and security, how Spain maintains an independent stance in its China policy and U.S. policy.

The meeting also included exchanges of views on a wide range of themes, including monetary policy, defense and space, and cooperation between Japan and Spain in science, technology, and innovation.