Top �� What's up around the Prime Minister �� May, 2002

Japan - New Zealand Summit Meeting Thursday, May 2, 2002 Click photographs to enlarge Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi arrived in Wellington, New Zealand, the final destination in his visit to Asia-Pacific countries. At the welcoming ceremony Prime Minister Koizumi received a traditional Maori welcome (hongi, a Maori greeting wherein noses are rubbed together) and afterward participated in a Summit Meeting with Prime Minister Helen Clark of New Zealand at Premier House. At the Summit Meeting, both leaders agreed to cooperate toward ratification of the Kyoto Protocol to prevent global warming at an early date, and affirmed their intention to cooperate in the process of nation-building of East Timor. Furthermore, concerning North Korea, Prime Minister Koizumi called on New Zealand, through its diplomatic relations with North Korea, to advocate to North Korea directly that dialogue with the international community would be beneficial for it, and Prime Minister Clark expressed a positive view on this matter. Also, Prime Minister Koizumi explained and asked for understanding of his concept of a growing East Asia community, which he presented during his official visit to Southeast Asia in January of this year. Prime Minister Clark expressed her support of this initiative. After the Summit Meeting, Prime Minister Koizumi and Prime Minister Clark held a Joint Press Conference.