Top �� Speeches and Statements by Prime Minister

(Provisional Translation)

Outline of the Joint Press Conference

May 2, 2003

1.Prime Minister Simitis I am pleased to welcome Prime Minister Koizumi to Athens for the 12th Japan-EU Summit. We exchanged views on a broad range of issues of mutual concern to Japan and the EU over the course of two days. The EU is interested in strengthening its strategic partnership and cooperating with Japan. Our strategic cooperation with Japan has just started, and we have ever been developing our existing cooperative relationship. Japan and the EU confirmed that we should steadily implement the Action Plan for EU-Japan Cooperation, and work on developing our strategic partnership. In doing so, Japan and the EU are to take steps to strengthen dialogue and cooperation not just in economic aspects, but in political aspects as well. Through such progress, we believe that we will be able to consolidate global stability. The issue of North Korea is not just a regional, but a global one in terms of preventing proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. We confirmed that we should discuss this issue within multilateral frameworks. We also discussed the recent tripartite talks among the United States of America, North Korea and the People's Republic of China which could be a first step toward resolution of the issue. Concerning Iraq, we welcomed a new prospect of building a new country,as well as a possibility of Iraq to rejoin the international community. We also affirmed the need to preserve the territorial integrity of Iraq and the importance of regional stability. We would like to further emphasize that we confirmed the vital role of the United Nations in the process of reconstruction. We also welcomed the appointment of a new Prime Minister in Palestine.We believe that this opened the door to bringing the relevant parties to the negotiating table. We affirmed the necessity for implementing the Roadmap without delay. On the issue of Cyprus, we affirmed the importance of continuing negotiations on the basis of the proposal by the Secretary-General of the United Nations. Furthermore, the regional situations such as China, the Western Balkan countries, Indonesia, Afghanistan and Myanmar were also raised. In economic relations between Japan and the EU, we confirmed that there is still a considerable potential left for expansion, in particular in two-way trade and investment. The EU side welcomed Prime Minister Koizumi's policy speech to the Japanese Diet last January aiming to double the stock of investment in Japan over the coming five years. On our future work, both Japan and the EU emphasized the necessity of cooperating to encourage more European companies to invest in Japan and Japanese companies to invest in Europe. In addition, we confirmed the importance of signing the Agreement between the European Community and the Government of Japan concerning Cooperation on Anti-Competitive Activities immediately. Finally, the two sides expressed deep concern about SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome). Although SARS currently spread mainly in Asia, we confirmed that Japan and the EU would promote the exchange of information and cooperation to cope with this disease. This summit was a most rewarding one in a convivial atmosphere. We confirmed that we would continue to strengthen our relationship through the steady implementation of the Action Plan. 2.Prime Minister Koizumi This was the third occasion for me to attend the Japan-EU Summit Meeting and I am satisfied with the progress in the relations between Japan and the EU. I have held talks with Mr. Costas Simitis, Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic, the current EU presidency, and Mr. Romano Prodi, President of the European Commission. I am very familiar with both Prime Minister Simitis and President Prodi, as I had met them several times. With our personal friendship, we were able to hold a meaningful summit. I would like to express my appreciation for the warm welcome extended by the Government of the Hellenic Republic. Last evening and this morning we exchanged views and information at the very opportune time when situations around Iraq and North Korea etc are changing rapidly. I reaffirmed that Japan's solidarity and cooperation with the EU are of great importance given the future EU enlargement through the accession of ten new members, scheduled for next year. With regard to the international situation, we raised the issues of Iraq and North Korea in particular. To put it simply, the following two points were confirmed: At the present stage when the military conflict in Iraq has ended,what must be done now is to swiftly reconstruct and bring stability to the country, and in so doing bring peace and stability in the Middle East region as a whole. In this endeavor, the United Nations should play a vital role, in addition to making efforts to rebuild international collaboration and we expect that a government of the Iraqis by the Iraqis for the Iraqis should be established as soon as possible. With regard to the issue of North Korea, we will continue to make efforts toward a political, diplomatic and peaceful solution. The relations between Japan and the EU are steadily developing, based on the Action Plan for EU-Japan Cooperation agreed upon in December 2001. At this summit the following points were specifically discussed: Firstly, we agreed to make efforts to promote two-way trade and investment between Japan and the EU. It was a significant result that we newly agreed on the Japan-EU Initiatives on Investment. Secondly, we agreed that tourism should be promoted between Japan and the EU. On this issue I have announced to the Japanese Diet a policy to promote tourism and double the number of tourists to Japan by 2010, and demonstrated my expectation to increase the number of tourists from the EU accordingly. As a matter of fact, I explained that it is my intention to make efforts not only to increase the number of tourists to Japan, but also to make the Japanese market more attractive to foreign companies and double the stock of investment in Japan from overseas over the next five years. The two sides confirmed that they would increase their mutual cooperation to this end. The EU has expressed its own expectations. Japan, for its part, will make every effort, and looks to the EU to do likewise. I expect that EU enlargement will lead to the stability and prosperity of the EU and the world at large. In addition, we intend to initiate consultations concerning its significant impact on the future of economic relation between Japan and the EU. We also agreed that we will mutually advance our cooperation in order to further develop Japan-EU relations. The strengthening of the strategic partnership between Japan and the EU is of great significance for the stability and prosperity of the world as a whole and I would like to deepen dialogue and cooperation in all areas. I would like to express my respect and gratitude for the cooperation of the EU side, especially for the cooperation and initiative of Prime Minister Simitis. 3.President Prodi I would like to mention two points: Firstly, the two sides confirmed that Japan and the EU shared the recognition that the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change must succeed. While there may be various problems in the short-term concerning the ratification of the Kyoto Protocol, I am convinced that this Protocol will bring about a common benefit to the international community in the long-term, and the EU would like to work together with Japan so as not to lose the momentum to increase the number of countries that ratify the Protocol. The two sides share a common interest in the EU enlargement. The enlargement will create a huge single integrated market and I would like to see Japan and the EU undertake a joint study on the economic influence of the enlargement on both Japan and the EU.