Internet Press Chat Conference, 22 March 2007

Seminar on Investment Promotion in Central Europe and the V4 Countries
Visit to Japan by Minister for Foreign Affairs Carl Bildt of the Kingdom of Sweden
Second bilateral meeting between Japan and Viet Nam on economic partnership agreement (EPA) negotiations

I. Seminar on Investment Promotion in Central Europe and the V4 Countries

Deputy Press Secretary Tomohiko Taniguchi: Today I have three items to introduce.

First, let me inform you of the Seminar on Investment Promotion in Central Europe and the V4 Countries.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will hold a Seminar on Investment Promotion in Central Europe and the V4 Countries on 26 March (Monday) in Tokyo (Mita Kaigisho). Invited to the seminar are the government officials in charge of investment promotion from the Czech Republic, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Poland, and the Slovak Republic (the so-called V4 countries), eight European countries (the Republic of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Republic of Bulgaria, the Republic of Croatia, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, the Republic of Montenegro, Romania, and the Republic of Serbia), the Interim Self-Autonomous Government of Kosovo, and also those deeply involved with Central Europe's economy, such as the Republic of Austria. Attending from Japan will be high-level officials of the European Affairs Bureau of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and those concerned from enterprises intending to expand businesses into the V4 and the Central European region.

In this seminar, Japan will introduce its views on the Central European countries as destinations for foreign investment while the V4 countries will explain their policies to attract Japanese investment, and their plans to attract foreign investment in order to accede to the European Union (EU). The participants of the seminar, including business people belonging to Japanese enterprises, will discuss policies for endorsing investment from Japan in the V4 and the Central European countries.

II. Visit to Japan by Minister for Foreign Affairs Carl Bildt of the Kingdom of Sweden

Mr. Taniguchi: Second, I would like to touch on the visit to Japan by Minister for Foreign Affairs Carl Bildt of the Kingdom of Sweden.

Mr. Carl Bildt, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden, who will accompany H.M. King Carl XVI Gustaf and H.M. Queen Silvia during their visit to Japan from 25 March (Sunday) to 31 March (Saturday), will be in Japan from 27 March (Tuesday) to 29 March (Thursday). During his visit, Mr. Bildt will meet with Minister for Foreign Affairs Taro Aso and exchange views on bilateral relations and the international situation. Mr. Bildt's visit to Japan is expected to further strengthen friendly relations between Japan and Sweden.

Related Information (Press Release)

III. Second bilateral meeting between Japan and Viet Nam on economic partnership agreement (EPA) negotiations

Mr. Taniguchi: Thirdly, the second bilateral meeting between Japan and the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam on economic partnership agreement (EPA) negotiations.

The second bilateral meeting between Japan and Viet Nam on economic partnership agreement (EPA) negotiations will be held in Viet Nam (Ha noi) from 27 March (Tuesday) to 30 March (Friday). The meeting will be attended on the Japanese side by Ambassador in charge of International Trade and Economy Jun Yokota and other Deputy Director- General level participants who will co-chair the meeting from relevant ministries, and on the Vietnamese side by Mr. Phan The Rue, Chief Negotiator, and other relevant officials. In the meeting, there will be wide-ranging exchanges of views and consultations in such fields as trade in goods and services and investment, aiming at achieving an agreement as soon as possible.

Related Information (Press Release)

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