Summary of the Japan-France Bilateral Leaders' Meeting

July 19, 2000
Ministry of Foreign Affairs

1. Time and Place

From 10:45 to 11:00, July 19, 2000, at the Prime Minister's Official Residence (the meeting was joined thereafter by EU President Romano Prodi and other parties, and the Japan-EU Leaders' Meeting, a working lunch, and other events took place until 13:00)

2. Summary of Meeting

A. This meeting was held with the objective of an exchange of views between French President Jacques Chirac and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori, focusing in particular on the preparations for the G8 Summit.

B. President Chirac noted the careful preparations that had been made for the Kyushu-Okinawa Summit meeting, stating that it would certainly be a success. He indicated that France would be unstinting in its support for the sake of the Summit's success, and that it would support to the greatest extent possible Japan's initiatives at the meeting. Prime Minister Mori thanked President Chirac for his support, hailing him as a leading figure at the Summit and a very close friend to Japan, and asking him for his fullest cooperation for the success of the Summit.

C. The two leaders went on to exchange opinions on some key topics (food safety, the WTO, and some of the regional situations that should be taken up in discussions between leaders at the Summit).

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