Top �� What's up around the Prime Minister �� September, 2002

Prime Minister Attends the Fourth Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM4) (Day One) Sunday, September 22, 2002 Visiting Copenhagen, Kingdom of Denmark, to attend the Fourth Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM4), Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi held talks with President Kim Dae Jung of the Republic of Korea and Premier Zhu Ronji of the People's Republic of China prior to the opening of the Meeting. At the summit meeting with President Kim Dae Jung, in light of the outcome of Prime Minister Koizumi's visit to North Korea, the two leaders affirmed that they would work for the establishment of peace and stability of Northeast Asia through close cooperation among Japan, the United States and the Republic of Korea, and shared the recognition that it is important to promote a reopening of dialogue between the United States and North Korea. At the meeting with Premier Zhu Ronji, the Premier remarked that Prime Minister Koizumi's visit to North Korea was to be "applauded as an important diplomatic initiative." In response, Prime Minister Koizumi urged Premier Zhu Ronji to induce North Korea onto a path toward international cooperation. With regard to Japan-China relations, both leaders expressed their hope for the further development of friendly relations in light of the thirtieth anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between Japan and China. The two Leaders also exchanged views on the issue of historical perceptions. In addition, in time for the opening ceremony the following day, the ASEM Asian Leaders' Meeting was held with Prime Minister Koizumi in attendance. Along with the Chairman's Statement, respective political declarations regarding the situation on the Korean Peninsula and counter-terrorism were approved for adoption at ASEM4. In the evening of the same day the leaders of 25 countries attended an informal dinner at which Prime Minister Koizumi delivered a report on the results of the Japan-North Korea summit meeting. In response, the other countries' leaders expressed their deep appreciation of the visit as contributing to peace and stability in the region.