Japan-Belgium Relations

　On July 5, commencing at 8:20 p.m. for approximately 70 minutes, Mr. Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan, together with his wife Mrs. Akie Abe, who are visiting the Kingdom of Belgium, held a dinner meeting at the Egmont Palace at the invitation by H.E. Mr. Charles Michel, Prime Minister of Belgium, and Ms. Amélie Derbaudrenghien. The overview of the meeting is as follows.

1. Both Prime Ministers celebrated meeting following last year’s summit meeting, and confirmed that they would continue to further strengthen bilateral relations.
2. Both Prime Ministers reconfirmed the importance of the Japan-European Union (EU) Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) for keeping the flag of free trade waving high amid the protectionist tendency, and welcomed the agreement in principle on the Japan-EU EPA which was confirmed in a discussion between Ministers on the same day. In addition, the two Prime Ministers held a frank exchange of views on matters of their common interest including the North Korean missile problem.