In 2006 the global economy grew very strongly. The US economy continued to expand despite the moderating growth rate as a result of adjustments in the housing market, while the euro zone economy recovered steadily. China and other emerging economies continued to show remarkable growth, driving the growth of the world economy. The Japanese economy also showed steady growth with its recovery phase continuing and its overcoming of deflation coming into view. Within this context, Japan, in an effort to further strengthen the Japanese and the world economies, is engaged in comprehensive economic diplomacy based on the pillars of the five priority issues given below. These five priority issues are (1) maintaining and strengthening the multilateral trading system, which is centered on negotiations towards the final conclusion of the WTO Doha Round, and strategic promotion of bilateral and regional FTAs and EPAs to supplement the multilateral trading system, (2) strengthening the protection of intellectual property rights, including measures to prevent the proliferation of counterfeit and pirated goods, (3) enhancing economic security for energy and food, and securing of ocean economic interests, (4) strengthening of economic relations through bilateral frameworks for the countries of North America, Europe and others, or multilateral frameworks, such as G8, OECD, APEC, and ASEM, and (5) strengthening the international competitiveness of Japanese companies and the Japanese economy itself.

   In order to resolve the issues involved, Japan is determined to participate actively in efforts to bring about the prosperity of the international community and work to promote Japan's economic interests.

   Since 2003, when Japan launched its Invest Japan campaign, the government as a whole has been working to promote investment in Japan, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has allowed the active use of its Embassies, Consulates and Permanent Missions overseas while contributing to public relations through cooperation with various organizations in Japan. As a result, the FDI (foreign direct investment) inward stock in Japan as of the end of 2005 reached about 11.9 trillion yen.