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

The Second Day of the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting Saturday, November 19, 2005 JAPANESE [Official APEC Photograph] [Official APEC Photograph] [Official APEC Photograph] [Official APEC Photograph] Click photographs to enlarge On the morning of November 19, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi participated in the discussions on the second day of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting, changing the location to the Nurimaru APEC House. The discussions of the day took place on security issues, starting with counter-terrorism measures, and in particular, a vigorous debate took place on avian influenza and infectious disease countermeasures. At the press conference, Prime Minister Koizumi said, "Especially with regard to avian influenza, Japan certainly has been strongly concerned about this matter, and recently, Japan drew up an action plan to deal with this disease. Japan will cooperate with all the countries concerned as this avian influenza is a global issue and threat." After the leaders' luncheon meeting, the leaders donned "turumagi," the native dress of the Republic of Korea (ROK), and assembled for a group photograph. Afterwards, the leaders declared in the Busan Declaration to "advance freer trade" such as to proceed expeditiously the multilateral trade negotiations (Doha Round) of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and to strengthen protection of intellectual property rights. They also declared to achieve "safe and transparent Asia-Pacific region" such as to implement avian influenza countermeasures and respond to the steep rise in the crude oil price. Thereafter, Prime Minister Koizumi held a Japan-Canada Summit Meeting with Mr. Paul Martin, the Prime Minister of Canada. At the meeting, the leaders signed the Japan-Canada Economic Framework and reaffirmed their intention to make progress toward the innovative economic relations between both countries that were announced in the Joint Declaration in January of this year. At the press conference held at the hotel in Busan, Prime Minister Koizumi said, "I am most gratified that I have been able to visit Busan once again and to have been able to meet with many leaders and have useful discussions with them in this vibrant setting. It has been agreed in the meeting that Japan shall be hosting the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings in five year's time, in 2010. I would like to learn much from the meetings this time which were organized in a most outstanding way by the ROK. We were blessed with very fine weather, and I would like to deeply thank the very warm hospitality extended by the Government of the ROK and its people in this hometown of President Roh Moo Hyun." Related link: Press Conference by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi Following the APEC Leaders' Meeting View Video (Available only in Japanese) Real(Narrowband) / Real(Broadband) Windows Media(Narrowband) / Windows Media(Broadband)