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

Goodwill Ambassadors who Promote Events for Japan-Republic of Korea Tourism and Cultural Exchanges Pay Courtesy Call on Prime Minister Thursday, July 22, 2004 Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi received a courtesy call from Ms. Yoshino Kimura and Ms. Choi Ji Woo, the Goodwill Ambassadors who Promote Events for Japan-Republic of Korea Tourism and Cultural Exchanges, at the Prime Minister's Official Residence. Next year will mark the 40th anniversary of the normalization of relations between Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK) and has been designated as the "Japan-ROK friendship year." Against this backdrop, the governments of both countries are planning to host various events in order to expand tourism and cultural exchanges. The two actresses, Ms. Kimura and Ms. Choi, have been appointed as the Goodwill Ambassadors who Promote Events for Japan-Republic of Korea Tourism and Cultural Exchanges by each of their governments and have taken on the role to widely appeal to the world on the charms of Japan and the ROK to promote visits by foreign tourists. Prime Minister Koizumi warmly welcomed the two Goodwill Ambassadors with a smile and took a commemorative picture with them, Mr. Nobuteru Ishihara, the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transportation of Japan and Mr. Chung Dong-chae, the Minister of Culture and Tourism of the ROK. Prime Minister Koizumi expressed his expectations for the activities of Ms. Kimura and Ms. Choi as the Goodwill Ambassadors by saying, "When the two of you are walking down the Ancient Roads of Kumano or a tourist site in the Republic of Korea, everyone will come join you."