Friday, July 20, 2001
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Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi participated in the G8 Summit Meeting (Genoa Summit) in the northern Italian city of Genoa. The Genoa Summit Meeting opened with a luncheon attended by leaders of the G7, followed by a G7 Summit Meeting. At the meeting, given severe global economic conditions, the leaders reached a consensus to work toward structural reform, free trade and strengthened international economic cooperation, and to contribute to global economic growth. Regarding Japan's structural reform, support from each country was expressed in the phrase, "We welcome the recently announced reform initiatives." The leaders also agreed on the importance of strengthening free trade and to work to launch a New Trade Round at the Fourth World Trade Organization (WTO) Ministerial Conference in Dhoa, Qatar this November. In addition, views were exchanged regarding the issues of strengthening the international financial system and heavily indebted poor countries (HIPCs). Based on the results of the meeting, a G7 Statement was issued afterward. Later, an announcement was made on the Global AIDS and Health Fund by the G8 leaders and Secretary-General Kofi Annan of the United Nations, and a meeting was held between the G8 leaders and representatives of developing countries. Prior to the opening of the Summit, Prime Minister Koizumi and Prime Minister Jean Chretien of Canada held Japan-Canada Summit Talks. The two leaders shared the recognition that participation by the United States in the Kyoto Protocol to prevent global warming was preferable. Prime Minister Koizumi also had talks with President George W. Bush of the United States of America before the luncheon. President Bush mentioned that Prime Minister Koizumi's recent visit to the United States was a wonderful one, whereupon Prime Minister Koizumi responded by thanking President Bush for his hospitality during the visit, also remarking that he was looking forward to President Bush's visit to Japan this autumn. When President Bush said that if possible, he would like to attend a baseball game with Prime Minister Koizumi during the autumn visit, Prime Minister Koizumi responded that it would be fun indeed. |
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