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On December 1, 2017, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe received a courtesy call from the Japan-France Club at the Prime Minister's Office.

The Prime Minister said in his address,

“I would like to welcome those members of the Japan-France Club who are visiting Japan. The Japan-France Club is an important bridge for the special partnership between our two countries. On the occasion of the meeting in Japan of the Japan-France Club, I would like to express my heartfelt respect for the hard work of all of the Club’s members, including the Japan-France Club Co-chairs Mr. Masahiko Uotani, President and Group CEO of Shiseido Co., Ltd, and Mr. Louis Schweitzer, Special Representative of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development of the French Republic for France-Japan Partnership. Japan and France have a special partnership sharing fundamental values such as freedom, democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. In a world where uncertainty is rising, I would like our two countries to cooperate to respond to the shared issues facing the international community, including upholding free trade and the response to the North Korea issue.

The agreement in principle on the Japan-EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) that was reached in July was a clear indication of the will of Japan and the EU to continue to raise the flag of free trade high amidst the rising global trend towards protectionism. I have high expectations of continued strong leadership from France toward the early signing and entry into force of that agreement. Once this EPA is signed, Japanese consumers will be able to enjoy the wonderful products of France, such as French wine, for cheaper prices than before. I would also like the people of France to enjoy not only Japan’s industrial products, but our agricultural products as well. I look forward to all of this.

In the early morning of November 29, North Korea launched a ballistic missile with a range large enough to reach Paris. Reflecting on the fact that North Korea has already scrapped promises it has made in the past twice, dialogue for the sake of dialogue has no value. We must create a situation in which the international community cooperates in a unified manner to apply the maximum amount of pressure to North Korea, such that North Korea comes to the point where it tell us that it wants to discuss abandoning its development of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles.

Lastly, next year, Japonismes 2018 will at last be held. I will attend the opening ceremony in Paris together with President Macron in July. While receiving the support of your companies representing Japan and France, I would like to build up momentum for an event that will serve as a new bridge between Japan and France. Thank you.”