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Prime Minister Visits the United States and the Middle East (the United States)


Thursday, April 26 to Friday, April 27, 2007
Photograph of the Prime Minister offering a wreath at the Arlington National Cemetery Photograph of Prime Minister and Mrs. Abe attending a dinner hosted by President and Mrs. Bush
Photograph of Prime Minister Abe and President Bush heading for the Japan-US Summit Meeting Photograph of the joint press availability after the summit meeting

Click photographs to enlarge


Prime Minister Shinzo Abe left on the government plane from Haneda Airport on April 26 to visit the United States (US) and countries in the Middle East. He arrived at Andrews Air Force Base in Washington, DC, the US, on the morning of the same day (Japan time: midnight the same day).

Following a meeting with parties involved with the US Congress, Prime Minister Abe visited the Bethesda Naval Hospital. After that he visited the Arlington National Cemetery and offered a wreath there. In the evening Prime Minister Abe, together with Mrs. Abe, attended a dinner hosted by Mr. George W. Bush and Mrs. Laura Bush, the President and the First Lady of the United States.

On the morning of April 27, the following day, Prime Minister Abe held a meeting with President Bush at Camp David. During the meeting, the two leaders confirmed that the Japan-US Alliance was unshakable and discussed an agenda that covered the area of security, and cooperation on the North Korean nuclear and abduction issues. They also announced a US-Japan joint statement to address challenges on energy security, clean development and climate change, agreeing that these challenges require sustained and effective global action.

Following the meeting, Prime Minister Abe participated in a joint press availability with President Bush and thereafter attended a luncheon hosted by the President. In the afternoon Prime Minister Abe met with former participants in the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Programme, which invites youths from overseas to experience language teaching and other activities in Japan.

After completing his itinerary in the US, Prime Minister Abe left for Riyadh, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, to start a tour of countries in the Middle East.


Related link:
U.S.-Japan Joint Statement on Energy Security, Clean Development and Climate Change
Fact Sheet: U.S.-Japan Cooperation to Tackle Global Trade, Energy, and Environmental Challenges