Thursday, January 22, 2009

Japan-Latvia Summit Meeting

Prime Minister Taro Aso held talks with Mr. Ivars Godmanis, Prime Minister of the Republic of Latvia, who is on an official working visit to Japan, at the Prime Minister's Office.

At the meeting, the leaders exchanged views on matters such as Japan-Latvia bilateral relations, including the economic relationship.

Prime Minister Godmanis stated his wish to further strengthen bilateral economic relations. In response, Prime Minister Aso said that trade between Japan and Latvia has been on the rise in recent years and expressed his hope for the further development of economic relations.

On financial and economic conditions, Prime Minister Godmanis explained that the Latvian economy is in a severe condition and stated his wish to hear about Japan's experience since the mid-1990s. Prime Minister Aso described measures that Japan took in the past and is taking now, and pointed to the necessity of mobilizing fiscal spending to expand domestic demand. He said that Japan will continue to make active contributions to both the stability of the Japanese economy and the stability of the world economy.

Related Link

• Japan-Latvia Summit Meeting (Outline) (Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
• Japan-Latvia Relations (Ministry of Foreign Affairs)