[Provisional Translation]

On May 17, commencing from 12:10 p.m. for around 15 minutes, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe received a courtesy call from the Hon. Andrew Scheer, M.P., Speaker of the House of Commons, Canada. Speaker Scheer is visiting Japan at the invitation of Mr. Bunmei Ibuki, Speaker of the House of Representatives. The overview of the meeting is as follows.

1. Prime Minister Abe welcomed Speaker Scheer on his first visit to Japan. He noted that Japan and Canada enjoy good and close relations, adding that active exchanges among the parliamentarians of Japan and Canada are greatly contributing to the excellent bilateral relations. Prime Minister Abe also said that the enhancement of collaboration in the fields of the economy and security would contribute to peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region and said that wanted to further deepen collaboration.
   
   
2. Speaker Scheer expressed gratitude for the warm consideration of the Japanese side upon his visit to Japan. He stated his expectations for cooperation between Japan and Canada in the area of economy and commended the Abe administration for the accomplishments of its economic policy.

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