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

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Republic of Korea Pays a Courtesy Call on Prime Minister Friday, October 28, 2005 JAPANESE Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi held a meeting with Mr. Ban Ki-Moon, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Republic of Korea (ROK), at the Prime Minister's Official Residence. At the beginning of the meeting, Prime Minister Koizumi said, "You came in spite of difficult circumstances, and I welcome your visit." In response, Minister Ban said, "Thank you for sparing time from your busy schedule amid all of your engagements, such as the special Diet session." Prime Minister Koizumi requested a Japan-ROK summit meeting on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting which is to be held in Busan, ROK in November, as well as a visit to Japan by Mr. Roh Moo Hyun, the President of the ROK, in December. Minister Ban said that he will relay the request to the President. In addition, Minister Ban said, "Regarding APEC, we would like to take your request into account considering our position as the chair country," leaving open the possibility of realizing the meeting in Busan. Furthermore, in response to Minister Ban's inquiry regarding the status of Japan's deliberations on building a new national memorial for the war dead, Prime Minister Koizumi said, "I would like to study this matter based on a thorough assessment of public opinion."