Meeting between Mr. Taro Aso, Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Mr. Carl Bildt, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden

April 3, 2007

For about two and a half hours from around 19:00 on March 28 at Iikura House, Mr. Taro Aso, Minister for Foreign Affairs, held a foreign ministerial meeting and a dinner with Mr. Carl Bildt, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden. The gist of the meeting is as follows:

Mr. Aso welcomed the visit to Japan by H.M. King Carl XVI Gustaf and H.M. Queen Silvia as State Guests. While showing his appreciation for Japan’s cordial welcome, Mr. Bildt told Mr. Aso that Sweden wanted to further strengthen relations with Japan, a partner who shares challenges and values.
Mr. Bildt also expressed that Sweden wanted to further intensify bilateral policy dialogues. Mr. Aso agreed to the idea and told him that Japan also wanted to enhance bilateral talks on the various common challenges. Furthermore Mr. Bildt proposed to advance cooperation in peace-building, Mr. Aso said that strengthening of training civilian experts was important and that Japan would like to have closer cooperation in this field since Sweden has advanced training centers.
Mr. Bildt raised an issue of North Korea and Mr. Aso told him that it was regrettable that we could not get into a full-fledged discussion in the recent Six-Party Talks. Mr. Aso also expressed that Japan would continue to urge North Korea to take concrete measures toward denuclearization and asked the understanding and cooperation of Sweden. Mr. Bildt said that he fully understood Japan’s stance and that he would extend as much cooperation as possible. Mr. Aso explained that the abduction issue was a serious problem concerning the life and security of Japanese people, and that Japan wanted to solve this problem as soon as possible through global cooperation. Mr. Bildt said that Sweden would cooperate to make the matter progress.
As to Japan’s candidacy for the nonpermanent membership election of the United Nations Security Council in 2008, Mr. Bildt stated that Sweden would support Japan. Mr. Aso expressed his gratitude and said that Japan would like to strengthen cooperation with Sweden in the U.N. arena.
They also exchanged views on such matters as the Asian situation including China, India, Indonesia and Viet Nam, the Balkan situation including Kosovo, and the situation in Central and Eastern Europe and Russia.

(END)

Back to Index