Top �� What's up around the Prime Minister �� June, 2003

Japan-Marshall Islands Summit Meeting Tuesday, June 17, 2003 Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi held talks with Mr. Kessai H. Note, the President of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, at the Prime Minister's Official Residence. The meeting took place over dinner, and President Note referred to the Third Japan-Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Summit Meeting (PALM 2003) held in Okinawa in May, saying, "It was extremely significant in that the issue of global warming was addressed. The Marshall Islands is a collection of coral islands and has been seriously affected by the global warming." President Note expressed gratitude for the efforts taken by Japan and made an appeal for his sense of crisis regarding the global warming. In response, Prime Minister Koizumi expressed willingness for further expansion of exchanges between Japan and Marshall Islands, saying, "There are many descendants of Japanese nationals living in the Marshall Islands. I would like to deepen our ties based on that background."