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Official Residence
Top What's up around the Prime Minister June, 2004
What's up around the Prime Minister

Japan-Ireland Summit Meeting and 13th Japan-EU Summit Meeting

Tuesday, June 22, 2004


The Photograph of Japan-Ireland Summit Meeting The Photograph of Leaders of Japan and EU who Take a Ceremonial Photograph The Photograph of Japan-EU Summit Meeting The Photograph of Prime Minister Koizumi who Held a Press Conference

Click photographs to enlarge


Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi held a meeting with Mr. Bertie Ahern, the Taoiseach (Prime Minister) of Ireland, current holder of the EU presidency, at the Prime Minister's Official Residence.

At the meeting, the two leaders agreed to work together towards promoting investment between Japan and Ireland. They also exchanged opinions on promotion of tourism.

Prime Minister Koizumi then took part in the 13th Japan-EU Summit Meeting with Prime Minister Ahern, Mr. Romano Prodi, the President of the European Commission and other key figures.

At the summit meeting, the leaders confirmed on the importance to advance a robust strategic partnership between Japan and the EU and announced such documents as the "Cooperation Framework for Promotion of Japan-EU Two-Way Investment" and the "Joint Statement on Cooperation for Information and Communications Technology."

After the meeting, Prime Minister Koizumi, Prime Minister Ahern and President Prodi held a joint press conference in which Prime Minister Koizumi said, "It is vital for Japan and the EU, which account for approximately 40% of the world gross domestic product (GDP), to enhance their cooperation for the growth of the world economy."

After the press conference, over dinner, the Japanese and EU leaders further exchanged opinions on the international situation. The leaders rated positively the progress seen in the international efforts for a peaceful resolution on the nuclear issue of North Korea through the Six-Party Talks, and the EU leaders welcomed the visit by Prime Minister Koizumi to North Korea and expressed their support for the efforts made by Japan for resolving the abduction issue. The leaders also agreed on their support towards the Iraqi Interim Government, the reinforcement of the disarmament and non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) regimes and an early realization of the Japan-EU meeting on counter-terrorism. The agreement was compiled in the Joint Press Statement.

Link:Japan-EU Summit Meeting (Japan-EU Joint Statement)