Countries & Regions

On Monday, June 17, commencing at 6:40 P.M. (local time) for about 40 minutes, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who is visiting Lough Erne in the United Kingdom to attend the G8 Summit, met with H.E. Dr. Angela Merkel, Federal Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany. The overview of the meeting is as follows.

1. At the start of the meeting, Prime Minister Abe expressed his heartfelt condolences for the damage caused by flooding in Germany. The two leaders, who have known each other for a long time, shared the view that their countries, having fundamental values in common, would continue coordination in the international arena on a variety of issues.
2. On the economic policy of Japan, Prime Minister Abe stated that Japan would be investing every policy resource available through bold measures that go beyond conventional policies in order to overcome the long-standing recession and successfully revitalize the Japanese economy. He explained initiatives to that end within his "three arrows" of bold monetary policy, flexible fiscal policy, and a growth strategy. In terms of a specific example from the growth strategy, Prime Minister Abe noted that cooperation was underway among Fukushima Prefecture and German states in the fields of renewable energy and medical devices. He said that he wanted to further deepen regional cooperation between Japan and Germany. Chancellor Merkel expressed strong interest in efforts for fiscal soundness in Japan. Prime Minister Abe explained that consideration would continue toward the specification of a mid-term fiscal plan in order to achieve goals related to fiscal soundness.
3. Prime Minister Abe touched on the support offered by Japan for the credit crisis in Europe. He remarked that Japan and Europe have an economic and deeply symbiotic relationship, and expressed expectations toward the continued leadership of Germany as Europe's largest economy. In addition, the leaders shared the view that the advancement of the Japan-European Union (EU) Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) is important.
4. Prime Minister Abe stated that import restrictions placed on Japanese products were harming progress in reconstruction from the Great East Japan Earthquake, and requested understanding about the total elimination of such restrictions in the EU.