The Eighth Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM 8): Japan Expresses Determination to Exert Leadership for the Growth of Global Economies

October 5, 2010

The Eighth Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM 8) was held in Brussels, Belgium, on October 4 and 5. Mr. Naoto Kan, Prime Minister of Japan, attended the meeting. In his remarks at a session on global economic governance, Prime Minister Kan reiterated that the leaders of both Asian and European countries must exert leadership and make concerted efforts for economic growth. He explained that Japan had been implementing economic policies centered on job creation measures, and conveyed the intention of Japan to actively utilize the framework of FTA/EPAs for the promotion of free trade while at the same time seeking for the early conclusion of the WTO Doha Development Round negotiations. The Prime Minister indicated his determination as the chair of this year's APEC leaders meeting to make contributions to the growth of global economies through a growth strategy that APEC would be issuing for the first time. He also emphasized the need for Asia and Europe to play an active role in addressing global issues such as climate change. Prime Minister Kan concluded his intervention by saying that Japan would actively contribute to the activities of ASEM in areas such as exchanges in education and culture, through cooperation with the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF) and other means.

In relation to this, Japan extended financial support to the Fourth Connecting Civil Societies of Asia and Europe Conference, an official side event of ASEM 8, providing a venue for dialogue between government officials of ASEM member countries and representatives of civil society. Through a contribution to ASEF of approximately 3.7 billion yen, Japan has started a countermeasure project for new strains of influenza. This project has now stockpiled 500,000 courses of anti-viral drugs, to be used for the early containment of outbreaks in Asia. The project has been implemented steadily, with various meetings convened regularly to help experts on health and public sanitation in Asia and Europe, build networks and hold awareness campaigns.

During his stay in Belgium, Prime Minister Kan held meetings with the leaders of China, the Republic of Korea, Viet Nam, Australia, the European Union (EU), Germany, and France. In his talks with the EU leaders, Prime Minister Kan stressed his intention to reach consensus on the launch of negotiations for a Japan-EU EPA at the annual Japan-EU Summit Meeting next spring. Mr. Jos? Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission responded that the EU would make a sincere response. Prime Minister Kan expressed the same intention at the Japan-Germany summit meeting, to which Dr. Angela Merkel, Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany stated that there was growing momentum for concluding an EPA with Japan. Both sides shared the view to make efforts for the start of EPA negotiations. Leaders of Japan and the EU, in their talks in Seoul on November 12, reaffirmed their intention to make an effort to reach a good conclusion in the following year's annual meeting.