Sunday, May 3, 2009

1st Day of the Prime Minister's Visit to Europe
(Czech Republic)

Prime Minister Taro Aso, who left Haneda Airport on the government airplane to visit European countries, arrived in Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic, on the afternoon of May 3 (local time).

Prime Minister Aso, after attending a welcome ceremony at the Czech Prime Minister's Office, held talks with Mr. Mirek Topolanek, Prime Minister of the Czech Republic. The leaders agreed that the Visegrad Group (V4), comprised of the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, and Slovakia, and Japan (V4 plus Japan) would further advance dialogue and cooperation, deciding to make arrangements for a V4 plus Japan Foreign Ministers' Meeting to be held on the occasion of the ASEM Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Hanoi, Viet Nam, at the end of May.

The leaders also agreed to work in collaboration on global issues, such as climate change, the situation of North Korea, and pandemic influenza.

After the talks, the leaders held a joint Japan-Czech leaders' press conference.

Related Link

• Joint Press Conference by the Leaders of Japan and the Czech Republic (3 May 2009)
• 2nd Day of the Prime Minister's Visit to Europe (EU) -What's up around the Prime Minister-
• 3rd Day of the Prime Minister's Visit to Europe (Federal Republic of Germany) -What's up around the Prime Minister-
• Japan-Czech Republic Relations (Ministry of Foreign Affairs)