Monday, May 4, 2009

JAPANESE

2nd Day of the Prime Minister's Visit to Europe
(EU)

Photograph of the three leaders taking a commemorative photograph prior to the 18th EU-Japan Summit

Photograph of the three leaders taking a commemorative photograph prior to the 18th EU-Japan Summit

On May 4 (local time), Prime Minister Taro Aso, who is visiting the Czech Republic, attended the 18th EU-Japan Summit at Prague Castle, the Office of the President of the Czech Republic. Mr. Vaclav Klaus, President of the Czech Republic, which assumes the Presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU), and Mr. Jose Manuel Durao Barroso, President of the European Commission, attended the Summit from the EU side.

At the Summit, the leaders discussed matters such as Japan-EU relations, global issues, and regional situations.

On Japan-EU relations, the leaders agreed that Japan and the EU would jointly exert leadership amidst the many difficulties the world is facing. They also agreed to begin considering formulating a new document which will replace the 2001 Action Plan for EU-Japan Cooperation once it elapsed in 2011. Agreement was also reached that considerations would be made over the coming one year so as to identify the new direction which Japan and the EU would take as they strengthen economic relations.

On global issues, the leaders reaffirmed the commitment at the London Summit on the global economic and financial crisis. On climate change, discussions took place on cooperation to achieve consensus over the next framework, in which all the main carbon emitters, including the United States and China, would participate. The leaders agreed on the importance for the international community to make concerted efforts to tackle pandemic influenza, concurring on cooperating with each other by exchanging information and taking other steps as necessary.

The leaders exchanged views broadly on major regional situations, such as China and North Korea, Afghanistan and Pakistan, Iran, peace in the Middle East, and piracy. They agreed on a broad range of issues, which include cooperation to resolve the North Korean nuclear and missile issues, urging China to assume a more responsible and constructive role, and the necessity to take a steadfast approach toward Iran.

In the afternoon, the leaders held a joint Japan-EU leaders' press conference and announced a joint press statement.

Prime Minister Aso, after attending the Japan-Czech Symposium on Comprehensive Cooperation in the Areas of Energy and the Environment at the Hilton Prague hotel, visited a memorial site commemorating the victory of World War I and offered wreathes there.

In the evening, Prime Minister Aso left Prague and arrived at the next destination, Berlin, the capital of the Federal Republic of Germany.

Related Link

Photograph of the 18th EU-Japan Summit

Photograph of the 18th EU-Japan Summit

Photograph of the Prime Minister heading for a press conference room after the 18th EU-Japan Summit

Photograph of the Prime Minister heading for a press conference room after the 18th EU-Japan Summit

Photograph of the three leaders holding a joint press conference

Photograph of the three leaders holding a joint press conference

Photograph of the Prime Minister attending a joint press conference

Photograph of the Prime Minister attending a joint press conference

Photograph of the Prime Minister offering wreaths at a memorial commemorating the victory of World War I

Photograph of the Prime Minister offering wreaths at a memorial commemorating the victory of World War I

Related photos

Click photographs to enlarge

  • Photograph of the three leaders taking a commemorative photograph prior to the 18th EU-Japan Summit
  • Photograph of the 18th EU-Japan Summit
  • Photograph of the Prime Minister heading for a press conference room after the 18th EU-Japan Summit
  • Photograph of the three leaders holding a joint press conference
  • Photograph of the Prime Minister attending a joint press conference
  • Photograph of the Prime Minister offering wreaths at a memorial commemorating the victory of World War I