Top What's up around the Prime Minister May, 2003 | |||
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On the evening of May 24 (late night of May 24, Japan Time), Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi arrived in the second destination, Cairo. That night (dawn of May 25, Japan Time) he visited Mr. Hosny Mubarak, President of the Arab Republic of Egypt at the President's Office and held talks. The leaders exchanged opinions on the issues of the reconstruction of Iraq and peace in the Middle East, and agreed to promote cooperation between Japan and Egypt in providing assistance for the reconstruction of Iraq in such fields as medical service. They also agreed to establish a Japan-Arab Dialogue Forum comprising business people and experts with a view to strengthening collaboration between Japan and the Arab countries. After the summit, the leaders held a joint press conference, during which Prime Minster Koizumi expressed his intention that Japan would make an active contribution towards the realization of peace in the Middle East. After visiting a children's hospital in the city of Cairo on the following morning, Prime Minister Koizumi left for his next destination, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in the afternoon of May 25 (night of May 25, Japan Time) . |