The Significance of the Visit to Japan by President Jacques Chirac of the French Republic

I. Strengthening Japan-Europe Relations

1. As international relations become closer and the international community proceeds to build a new world order for the post-Cold War era, the geographic range in which major countries must be involved is expanding, and global issues are increasing in number. In particular, there is an expansion of mutual cooperation between Europe and Asia through the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM). Considering Europe to be a partner, Japan intends to cooperate with Europe in the creation of a new framework for the international community in taking a response to global issues, as well as in responding to domestic issues held in common through exchange knowledge.

2. In light of this trend toward strengthening Japan-Europe relations, this autumn there has been a succession of important visits to Japan by European leaders, including President Jacques Santer of the European Commission and Federal Chancellor Helmut Kohl of the Federal Republic of Germany. This period presents a good opportunity to build new Japan-Europe relations. The visit to Japan by the president of France, who plays a key role in Europe, is one part of an intensifying flow in closer and new relations between Japan and Europe.

II. Strengthening Japan-France Relations

President Jacques Chirac of the French Republic is extremely knowledgeable and friendly to Japan, and has already visited 42 times (no other leader in Europe or the United States matches this record). This will be the first visit by President Chirac to Japan as a State Guest, and this opportunity will allow for strengthening of the relations between the Japanese and French leaders, as well as between the two governments. It will also promote wide-ranging exchange among the people of our two countries, and stimulate dramatic development in Japan-France relations, with a view to the coming 21st century. In this context, big cultural events like "Japan Year" in France in 1997 and "France Year" in Japan in 1998 are expected to strengthen cultural exchanges between the two countries.

III. Strengthening Japan-France Cooperation for the International Community

Japan and France must not limit their contacts to bilateral relations, but rather must advance international cooperation with a view to the coming of the 21st century. As major countries in the international community, Japan and France contribute positively to the creation of a new framework for the international community, and aim to further strengthen cooperation between themselves. Specifically, this cooperation focuses on the United Nations, disarmament and non-proliferation, and development assistance. Japan's Initiative for a Caring World, proposed by Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto at the G7 Lyon Summit, is one part of that process. Furthermore, as major countries, respectively in Asia and Europe, Japan and France seek to strengthen their cooperation in order to enhance overall Asia-Europe relations.

IV. Announcement of the Action Plan

Bearing in mind the various points outlined above, at the time of this Japan-France Summit Meeting, the leaders of Japan and France are scheduled to announce a document entitled France-Japan 20 Actions for the Year 2000, which will serve as a guideline for future cooperation between Japan and France.