Organizers: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, The Japan Foundation
Co-organizer: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Argentina

Leaflet: “Japan-Argentina Exchange Symposium”
(PDF/ 52KB)

Purpose
Argentina, which takes pride of its rich culture and high education standards in Central and South American region, has formed its own cultural identity while getting strongly influenced by Western culture in the process of modernization. This symposium offers a platform where people with rich experience in international exchange from both Argentina and Japan will discuss and debate about cultural attributes and its response to the process of globalization. This will be a stepping stone to enhance interest of citizens for cross-cultural exchanges.

Globalization has increased and deepened interdependence among nations through trade, tourism, investment, educational programs and the world-wide net-work of mass communication.

This trend has been accompanied by the lowering of national barriers and obstacles for international or cross-border exchanges.
At the same time, increasing concern has been felt in many areas of the world that globalization may be accompanied by the loss or weakening of national, ethnic, religious and regional identity.

These two aspects of globalization have consequently stimulated at least two types of efforts in the area of cultural activities. One is the effort to increase and deepen international or cross-border cooperation and collaboration in cultural, educational and intellectual activities. Another is the effort to preserve and consolidate national, ethnic or regional identity through strengthening of various types of cultural activities.
If we consider these two types of efforts in the context of Japan-Argentina relation, wecan, first of all, discuss our efforts to consolidate Japanese and Argentine national identity, Asian and Latin American identity and perhaps other types of cultural identity. Secondly, we can exchange views to identify areas where cooperation or collaboration between Japan and Argentina is possible and desirable.

We hope to welcome many international participants to this symposium.