Remarks by Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama for the press after the Fourth Japan-EU Summit

19 June 1995

1. Today, I am very pleased to have had personal talks in Paris, following the G7 Summit meeting in Halifax, with President Chirac on Japan-France relations and with President Santer on Japan-EU relations. As you know, President Chirac is a person who knows Japan very well. I have confirmed with President Chirac that we will cooperate with each other to make relations between Japan and France, which are already in good shape spanning numerous areas of cooperation, closer toward the 21st century. As one form of such cooperation, we have agreed at this meeting to establish the "Japanese-French Dialogue Forum." I am hoping to have good advice from wisemen of both countries on concrete measures for further strengthening future Japan-France relations. "The Year of Japan in France" and "The Year of France in Japan" will be held, respectively, in 1997 and 1998 in the two countries. My hope is that these events will serve to further develop the friendly relationship between Japan and France and the mutual understanding of both peoples that were deepened by the visit to France last year by Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress.

2. President Santer is taking a positive initiative for the constructive development of relations with Japan very soon after his inauguration. I believe it is significant that we have held the present Japan-EU summit meeting for the first time in two years. As is written in the joint press statement, we have agreed to hold the Japan-EU summit annually in Japan and Europe alternately. Next year it will be held in Japan. Japan-EU relations have enjoyed deepening dialogue and cooperation not only on economic matters but also on political matters. I believe Japan needs to further promote such cooperative relationship from a global perspective.