Home > News > The Prime Minister in Action > October 2012 > Welcome Reception for the 2012 Annual Meetings of the IMF and World Bank Held by the Prime Minister and Other Activities
Welcome Reception for the 2012 Annual Meetings of the IMF and World Bank Held by the Prime Minister and Other Activities
Friday, October 12, 2012
Photograph of the Prime Minister delivering and address at the reception 1
Photograph of Prime Minister Noda shaking hands with the President of the World Bank, Dr. Jim Yong Kim
Photograph of Prime Minister Noda holding talks with the President of the World Bank, Dr. Jim Yong Kim
Photograph of Prime Minister Noda shaking hands with the Managing Director of the IMF, Ms. Christine Lagarde
Photograph of Prime Minister Noda holding talks with the Managing Director of the IMF, Ms. Christine Lagarde
Photograph of the Prime Minister delivering an address at the reception 2
Photograph of the Prime Minister conducting the "sake barrel opening" at the reception
Photograph of Prime Minister Noda shaking hands with the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, Mr. Timothy Geithner
Photograph of Prime Minister Noda holding talks with the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, Mr. Timothy Geithner
Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda held talks with Dr. Jim Yong Kim, President of the World Bank, who is attending the 2012 Annual Meetings of the IMF and World Bank, at a hotel in Tokyo.
Following this, Prime Minister Noda held talks with Ms. Christine Lagarde, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
The Prime Minister then held a welcome reception.
The Prime Minister said in his address,
"Although Japan has changed largely, there are two things that are unchanged from half a century ago.
One is the 'indomitable spirit backed up with the bonds with people throughout the world.'
In 1964, Japan, rising again from the devastation after the war, had hosted the Annual Meetings with a feeling of gratitude for the support from the international community.
The 2012 Annual Meetings in Tokyo is being held at a time when Japan is still making utmost efforts in the reconstruction from the Great East Japan Earthquake. With a sense of gratitude for the support and encouragement we have received from the international community, we would like you to see 'Japan at present,' working toward the reconstruction. We decided to host the Annual Meetings in May last year.
The other point that has remained unchanged for half a century is the fact that 'Japan has a strong belief in the importance of international cooperation and free economic exchange.'
It is because of the international cooperation and free economic exchange embodied by the IMF and the World Bank that Japan was able to achieve significant growth after World War II. I believe that the importance of such international cooperation and free economic exchange is increasing now, also in order for the world economy to overcome the difficulty it is facing.
Based on such unwavering belief, Japan is determined to make large contributions to the activities of the IMF and the World Bank, including in terms of not only knowledge but also funds."
Lastly, Prime Minister Noda held talks with Mr. Timothy Geithner, Secretary of the Treasury of the United States.
