Saturday, November 22, 2008

JAPANESE

1st Day of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting

Photograph of Prime Minister Aso shaking hands with President Bush

Photograph of Prime Minister Aso shaking hands with President Bush

On November 22 (local time), Prime Minister Taro Aso, who is visiting the Republic of Peru to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting, held talks with Mr. George W. Bush, President of the United States of America.

At the meeting, the leaders discussed issues such as the Japan-U.S. relationship, the situation in the Asia-Pacific region, the world economy, Iraq and Afghanistan. Afterward, Mr. Lee Myung-Bak, President of the Republic of Korea (ROK) joined the meeting and the leaders held the Japan-U.S.-ROK Summit Meeting. There, the leaders confirmed the importance of close cooperation among Japan, the U.S., and the ROK on North Korean issues and the global economy. They also recognized that a meeting of the leaders of Japan, the U.S., and the ROK is an important opportunity and agreed to continue holding such trilateral summit meetings going forward.

After the meeting, the Leaders' Retreat I of the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting took place, and Prime Minister Aso took part in discussions with world leaders on the global financial crisis, promotion of food and energy security, and the WTO Doha Development Agenda negotiations. Touching on the global economic and financial issue as a whole, Prime Minister Aso stressed that it is important for the APEC members to be united in their efforts to address current global economic and financial issues, by ensuring the implementation of the concrete actions agreed upon at the Summit on Financial Markets and the World Economy held in Washington, DC, the previous week. Prime Minister Aso also stated that Japan, in cooperation with other APEC economies, will promote efforts as outlined in a statement issued at the G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit, held in July of this year, such as the construction of a global partnership on agriculture and food, the increase of world food production, and the strengthening of the trade system, which includes the removal of export restrictions.

Following the Leaders' Retreat I, Prime Minister Aso held talks with Dr. Alvaro Uribe Velez, President of the Republic of Colombia. At the meeting, the leaders discussed matters such as peace-building assistance to Colombia, cooperation in the areas of education and culture, and the Japan-Colombia bilateral relationship.

After attending the dialogue with the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC), Prime Minister Aso held talks with Mr. Medvedev, Dmitry Anatolyevich, President of the Russian Federation. At the meeting, the leaders discussed matters such as the peace treaty issue as well as North Korean issues. They agreed to hold intensive political dialogues on a summit level next year.

Related Link

Photograph of the Japan-U.S.-ROK Summit Meeting

Photograph of the Japan-U.S.-ROK Summit Meeting

Photograph of the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting (Pool photo)

Photograph of the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting (Pool photo)

Photograph of the Prime Minister attending the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting (Pool photo)

Photograph of the Prime Minister attending the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting (Pool photo)

Photograph of Prime Minister Aso shaking hands with President Uribe

Photograph of Prime Minister Aso shaking hands with President Uribe

Photograph of the Japan-Russia Summit Meeting

Photograph of the Japan-Russia Summit Meeting

Related photos

Click photographs to enlarge

  • Photograph of Prime Minister Aso shaking hands with President Bush
  • Photograph of the Japan-U.S.-ROK Summit Meeting
  • Photograph of the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting (Pool photo)
  • Photograph of the Prime Minister attending the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting (Pool photo)
  • Photograph of Prime Minister Aso shaking hands with President Uribe
  • Photograph of the Japan-Russia Summit Meeting