Top What's up around the Prime Minister April, 2003 | |||
As part of his visit to several nations in Europe, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi held a summit with British Prime Minister Tony Blair at the U.K. Prime Minister's Office in London on April 26 (dawn of April 27 Japan Time).
During the meeting, the leaders shared the view that it was extremely important to establish a system to pursue international coordination on the issue of assistance for reconstruction of Iraq in cooperation with the United States of America. The leaders also exchanged opinions on international cooperation for peace in the Middle East. In addition, Prime Minister Koizumi requested the United Kingdom, which has diplomatic relations with North Korea, to provide peripheral assistance with a view to solving the issues of North Korea. Prime Minister Blair expressed his stance to provide assistance and cooperation for the efforts made by Japan, in response to its request. On the following day, Prime Minister Koizumi received Prime Minister Blair's invitation prior to his departure for the next country on his itinerary and toured the Cabinet War Rooms in the city of London and had a pleasant talk with Prime Minister Blair. (The Cabinet War Rooms served as Prime Minister's Office from which it took refuge to the underground during the World War II. For the present, it is opened to the public as a museum.) |