Thursday, July 9, 2009

JAPANESE

2nd Day of the G8 L'Aquila Summit

Photograph of the G8 leaders posing for a commemorative photograph for a working session

Photograph of the G8 leaders posing for a commemorative photograph for a working session

On July 9 (local time), Prime Minister Taro Aso, who is visiting L'Aquila, Italy, to attend the G8 L'Aquila Summit, held talks with Mr. Dmitry Anatolyevich Medvedev, President of the Russian Federation. At the talks, the two leaders discussed how to best construct relations as strategically important partners in the Asia-Pacific region. Additionally, the two leaders discussed issues such as the territorial issue and security in the Asia-Pacific region.

Later that morning, 14 countries and an organization -- a group which consisted of the G8 countries, the European Union (EU), Egypt, and the five emerging nations of China, India, Brazil, Mexico, and South Africa -- participated in a working session to discuss the world economy and free trade systems. The leaders of this group adopted a joint declaration for the first time in which they agreed to advance the Doha Round (multilateral trade negotiations) of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

A Major Economies Forum (MEF) was held in the afternoon where measures against global warming were discussed.

Prime Minister Aso also held talks with Mr. Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, President of the Federative Republic of Brazil, in which the two discussed, among other matters, the conclusion of a bilateral social security treaty for Brazilians of Japanese descent and Japanese companies operating in Brazil. In relation to a high-speed railway plan in Brazil, Prime Minister Aso explained to President Lula about the excellence of Japanese shinkansen and about technical support to operate the trains.

Afterwards, Prime Minister Aso attended a dinner hosted by Mr. Giorgio Napolitano, President of the Italian Republic, and then held talks with Mr. Stephen Joseph Harper, Prime Minister of Canada.

Related Link

Photograph of Prime Minister Aso shaking hands with President Medvedev

Photograph of Prime Minister Aso shaking hands with President Medvedev

Photograph of Prime Minister Aso holding talks with President Medvedev

Photograph of Prime Minister Aso holding talks with President Medvedev

Photograph of Prime Minister Aso exchanging views with G8 Summit participants

Photograph of Prime Minister Aso exchanging views with G8 Summit participants

Photograph of Prime Minister Aso attending a commemorative photograph session with G8 Summit participants

Photograph of Prime Minister Aso attending a commemorative photograph session with G8 Summit participants

Photograph of the Major Economies Forum

Photograph of the Major Economies Forum

Photograph of Prime Minister Aso shaking hands with President Lula

Photograph of Prime Minister Aso shaking hands with President Lula

Photograph of Prime Minister Aso holding talks with President Lula

Photograph of Prime Minister Aso holding talks with President Lula

Photograph of Prime Minister Aso attending a dinner hosted by President Napolitano

Photograph of Prime Minister Aso attending a dinner hosted by President Napolitano

Photograph of Prime Minister Aso posing for a commemorative photograph at a dinner hosted by President Napolitano

Photograph of Prime Minister Aso posing for a commemorative photograph at a dinner hosted by President Napolitano

Related photos

Click photographs to enlarge

  • Photograph of the G8 leaders posing for a commemorative photograph for a working session
  • Photograph of Prime Minister Aso shaking hands with President Medvedev
  • Photograph of Prime Minister Aso holding talks with President Medvedev
  • Photograph of Prime Minister Aso exchanging views with G8 Summit participants
  • Photograph of Prime Minister Aso attending a commemorative photograph session with G8 Summit participants
  • Photograph of the Major Economies Forum
  • Photograph of Prime Minister Aso shaking hands with President Lula
  • Photograph of Prime Minister Aso holding talks with President Lula
  • Photograph of Prime Minister Aso attending a dinner hosted by President Napolitano
  • Photograph of Prime Minister Aso posing for a commemorative photograph at a dinner hosted by President Napolitano