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TOP > What's up around the Prime Minister > January, 2007

Prime Minister Visits Europe (France)


Friday, January 12 to Saturday, January 13, 2007
Photograph of Prime Minister Abe shaking hands with President Chirac Photograph of the Japan-France summit meeting Photograph of Prime Minister holding a Press Conference
Photograph of Prime Minister Abe shaking hands with former Minister of the Environment Royal Photograph of Prime Minister Abe shaking hands with Minister of State and Minister of the Interior Sarkozy


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On January 12, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe departed from Brussels for France, the last stop in his tour, after visiting the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) Headquarters in Belgium. He arrived in Paris, the capital city of the French Republic, and was welcomed by President Jacques Rene Chirac at the Elysee Palace. The two leaders then held a meeting and attended a working dinner.

At the meeting, the two leaders confirmed that they would work to further enhance the current close, sound, and friendly Japan-France relations, and agreed that they expected further development of economic ties between their two countries.

In addition, they confirmed that the two countries would closely cooperate and coordinate their efforts on international issues such as the early resolution of the issue of the abductions by North Korea, nuclear and missile issues, reform of the UN Security Council, and the Middle East situation.

On the next day, January 13, Prime Minister Abe held a press conference in Paris. He said "My latest tour to Europe has been very significant and fruitful in that I have been able to further strengthen the collaboration aimed toward solving a wide range of issues with the European countries, which are our strategic partners sharing common goals and responsibilities with Japan. I have also been able to build relations of trust with the leaders of each country I visited."

After the press conference, Prime Minister Abe held meetings with Ms. Segolene Royal, a former Minister of the Environment (the Presidential candidate of the Socialist Party) and Mr. Nicolas Sarkozy, the Minister of State and Minister of the Interior and Regional Development, successively. At each meeting, Prime Minister Abe exchanged opinions on issues such as bilateral relations and the international situation, as well as the declining birthrate and aging population.

Having completed the schedule of his tour in Europe, Prime Minister Abe left for Cebu Island, in the Republic of the Philippines, to participate in the East Asian Summit (EAS) and other meetings.