The representative of the Asian giant visited the university to carry out various activities.
A keynote talk before the university community was given by the Ambassador of Japan in Chile, Her Excellency. Takako Ito, in the context of her visit to the region of La Araucanía during October 21 and 22, within the framework of the invitation extended by the Honorable Senator Carmen Gloria Aravena.
The visit aimed to strengthen ties with the productive sector of the region, as well as cooperation with different areas. At the same time, it represented an opportunity for the university to lead the articulation of different actors in the territory, in order to publicize the gaps, challenges and potential that the region presents, with a focus on strengthening international cooperation for its development.
During the first day, the Ambassador developed a program that included a formal reception with the Rector of UC Temuco, Aliro Bórquez, and a meeting with members of the Kuramochi Family, one of whose members, Yozuke Kuramochi, was the leader of the study house. between the years 1984 to 1986, when it was part of the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile.
In this context, Aliro Bórquez said that “for us the visit we had from the ambassador of Japan is very important, we are very grateful for the management carried out by Senator Carmen Gloria Aravena. Also happy because most of the ambassador’s activities are at our university and that fills us with great pride. This type of exchange opens new doors for us to improve mobility, both academic and student, and we hope that as a result of this visit we can achieve that. I explained the interest we have and the areas we would like to expand.”
For her part, ambassador Takako Ito said that “we wanted to exchange opinions and make contact with young people, which is one of the points on which we put a lot of emphasis and, therefore, thank the senator and the university for coordination. One of the main objectives of the visit was to hold the conference and also to deliver medical equipment to this region because it is a gift from the Japanese people. We as the Japanese government have a scholarship system offered by a ministry and we also have the working holiday system, so we hope that young people from this territory can go to Japan because Chile is a strategic partner and neighbor as well.”
Meanwhile, Senator Carmen Gloria Aravena, who arranged the visit, indicated that “first, we would like to thank the Catholic University of Temuco for its willingness and for accompanying us throughout this process. Japan is one of the most important countries in the world that has a highly developed economy and, furthermore, it is a society that in some way is an example for the entire world. In that context, it is a very relevant visit because it comes not only to strengthen ties with the companies that are installed here in the region, but it is a way to link with the academy, with the artisans and also with families who have to “made a tremendous contribution to the region, I think it is a good sign.”
Bilateral Relations
The Pro-Rector of the university, Marcela Momberg, explained that “the visit allowed us to delve deeper into the topic of exchange of academics, but also students, thinking about the technological advances that Japan can show us, that is, “How can we review our fields of research, comparing them with how they have advanced in generating synergy and obviously that contribution later translates into a benefit for the region.”
It should be said that the ambassador gave a master class on her country’s foreign policy, called “Bilateral Relations between Japan and Chile”, which was attended by regional and university authorities, academics and members of the institutional community.
Takako Ito presented during her conference a comparative analysis between both nations, their similarities and differences, she also addressed Japan’s foreign policy and how the Asian giant is tending to strengthen ties with the world.
This instance was complemented by a panel made up of the Seremi of the Treasury, Ronald Kliebs; the Seremi of Health, Andrés Cuyul; the Seremi of Labor and Social Welfare, Claudia Tapia and the Seremi of Cultures, Arts and Heritage, Eric Iturriaga, who reflected on the diplomat’s presentation.
In that sense, Ronald Kliebs, Seremi of the Treasury, highlighted that “the Minister of Finance Mario Marcel received the ambassador a few months ago, and they had an important meeting on bilateral matters. This is the same thing that we want to do in La Araucanía to try to see technical and technological aspects, mainly in the green hydrogen industry, which we have been promoting as the government of President Gabriel Boric and in which Japan has different technologies that we could take to implement. in our region.”
Likewise, the ambassador had the opportunity to speak with different institutional actors and representatives of the Public Advocacy Center, Ta Iñ Pewam Institute, of the Vice-Rector’s Office for Public Liaison and Engagement, to form a vision of the work of the UCT and explore areas of academic cooperation and cultural.
It should be said that the ambassador will also visit a school located in the commune of Cherquenco, the Dr. Hernán Henríquez Aravena Hospital to make a donation of medical equipment and the company Aguas Araucanía.
In this way, this meeting fulfills a central objective in the university’s internationalization policy, of having its cooperation networks at the service of the promotion and well-being of the region and its inhabitants.
