Top �� What's up around the Prime Minister �� March, 2004

Japan-Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Summit Meeting Tuesday, March 2, 2004 Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi held talks with Mr. Ralph E. Gonsalves, the Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, at the Prime Minister's Official Residence. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines are islands in the Caribbean Sea in Central America and are a member state of the Commonwealth. At the meeting, Prime Minister Gonsalves expressed his gratitude for the economic cooperation provided by Japan in areas including marine products, and his wish to further broaden bilateral relations. In response, Prime Minister Koizumi said, "Both of our countries have beautiful nature and are blessed with marine resources. Japan would like to cooperate with Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in areas including sustainable utilization of living marine resources." Prime Minister Koizumi also expressed his intention to enhance the friendly and cooperative relations with the member states of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM: a community organized of Caribbean states and territories aiming for economic integration) including Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.