“The common interest in traditional medicines was an important issue to debate, both in Bolivia and Japan, and specific reference was made to the use of coca leaf,” according to Juan Carlos Alurralde, Secretary-General of the Vice-Presidency.

“Deputy Foreign Minister Akimoto personally experimented with the coca leaf and expressed his deep interest in the Bolivian proposal, assuring that it will be assessed by his government in due course,” Alurralde said.

Choquehuanca expressed his gratitude for Japan’s debt cancellation in 2006, and stressed that, despite of this, the Japanese side continues to provide non-refundable financial support to Bolivia.

pll/ybc/lam/jpm