TOP > What's up around the Prime Minister > May, 2008

Japan-New Zealand Summit Meeting Wednesday, May 14, 2008 JAPANESE

Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda held talks with the Rt Hon Helen Clark, Prime Minister of New Zealand, at the Prime Minister's Official Residence. At the meeting, the leaders exchanged opinions not only on the Japan-New Zealand economic relationship but also on a broad range of areas, including politics, security, the environment, and science and technology. In the joint press announcement that followed the meeting, Prime Minister Fukuda said, "In regard to the environment, Prime Minister Clark won the 2008 Champions of the Earth Award of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Prime Minister Clark and I reaffirmed our intention to further advance our bilateral cooperation in the fields of the environment and climate change. For her part, Prime Minister Clark highly evaluated the Cool Earth Promotion Programme, an initiative that Japan is advancing toward the G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit. Going forward, we wish to continue our bilateral cooperation." Related link: Japan-New Zealand Joint Press Statement (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) Japan-Australia Relations (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan)