Top > What's up around the Prime Minister > April, 2005

Japan-Switzerland Summit Meeting Monday, April 18, 2005 Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi held a meeting with Mr. Samuel Schmid, the President of the Swiss Confederation at the Prime Minister's Official Residence. At the meeting, the two leaders agreed to start an intergovernmental research in order to consider the modality of economic partnership between Japan and Switzerland. The specific measures for the research are to be discussed at intergovernmental meetings. Prime Minister Koizumi, noting the great potential in expanding trade between Japan and Switzerland, said, "I wish to deepen our economic exchanges," to which President Schmid responded, "Switzerland places major focus on the development of exchanges between Japan and Switzerland. We consider Japan to be our most essential partner in Asia. It is desirable to promote bilateral trade through conclusion of appropriate agreements." Prime Minister Koizumi then said, "The topic of economic partnership was raised on the occasion of the visit to Japan by Mr. Joseph Deiss, the former president of Switzerland last October, and I had called for a research to be conducted on this regard." Lastly, President Schmid remarked, "There are many items of interest shared by Japan and Switzerland," where Prime Minister Koizumi in response said, "I intend to further develop the exchanges between our countries in various areas as the people of Japan hold great respect and sense of attachment to Switzerland."