Japan-New Zealand Relations
Prime Minister Abe Held Informal Talks with the Prime Minister of New Zealand
On November 19 (November 20, Japan time), Mr. Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan, held short informal talks with the Rt. Hon. John Key, Prime Minister of New Zealand, in Lima, Peru, during his visit to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Meeting. The overview of the talks is as follows.
1. Prime Minister Abe once again conveyed his condolences over the earthquakes which occurred in South Island, New Zealand, and explained that he was praying that information gathered by the P-1 patrol aircraft dispatched byJapan Maritime Self-Defense Force was being useful in the disaster relief operations. In response, Prime Minister Key expressed his gratitude towards Japan’s cooperation by explaining that the information provided by Japan has been important for grasping the extent of the disaster and will also be useful in the recovery.
2. The two leaders reaffirmed the importance of promoting free trade, and confirmed that the two countries will work even more closely in regards to the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).