On March 6, commencing at 6:15 p.m. for around 30 minutes, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held a meeting with H.E. Mr. Borut Pahor, President of the Republic of Slovenia, who is visiting Japan, at the Prime Minister's Office. The overview of the meeting is as follows.

1. Opening
   
   Prime Minister Abe welcomed President Pahor on his first visit to Japan, as well as for being the first Slovenian President to visit Japan. Prime Minister Abe said he is paying close attention to Slovenia, which he admires as the first country in the former Yugoslavia to join the EU, for the contribution it is making to the stability of the West Balkan region, and which is a country that possesses strong technological capabilities.
   President Pahor said that in light of the need for a strong economy, he is paying close attention to the new policies being implemented by Prime Minister Abe, which are being referred to as "Abenomics," and said he hopes political and economic relations between the two countries will become stronger.
   
   
2. Bilateral economic relations
   
   Prime Minister Abe proposed holding the first Japan-Slovenia Joint Committee on Cooperation in Science and Technology this year, along with stating that the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) is exploring cooperation with Slovenia in sectors such as smart communities, and that he will be happy if this gives rise to a model for technological cooperation in the Central and Eastern European region.
   President Pahor said that Japanese companies advancing into Slovenia are gaining access to two markets: the EU and the West Balkan region.
   
   
3. Cooperation in the international community
   
   (1) Prime Minister Abe explained Security Council reform, the Japan-EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) and political agreements, and the situation in East Asia, and within that he asked for Slovenia's understanding and cooperation toward resolving North Korea's nuclear development issue and the abduction issue.
   
   (2) President Pahor said Slovenia supports stronger Japan-EU relations, and that it shares Japan's views on the situation in East Asia.
   
   
4. Invitation to Slovenia
   
   At the end of the meeting, President Pahor stated that he would by all means like to invite Prime Minister Abe to Slovenia.

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