Countries & Regions

On Monday, June 17, commencing at 7:55 P.M. (local time) for about 25 minutes, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who is visiting Lough Erne in the United Kingdom to attend the G8 Summit, met with Hon. Enrico Letta, President of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Italy.The administration of Prime Minister Letta, former Deputy Secretary of the Democratic Party, was inaugurated in April under a grand coalition of center-left and center-right, following an election for both chambers of Italy's parliament in February.

It was their first meeting as the Prime Ministers of Japan and Italy.

An outline of the meeting is as follows:

1. Prime Minister Abe congratulated Prime Minister Letta on his inauguration and the launch of his administration. Prime Minister Letta said Italy faces the challenge of economic reconstruction and expressed a strong interest in Prime Minister Abe's economic policies as an initiative for economic revitalization. Prime Minister Abe then explained Japan's economic policy measures.
2. Prime Minister Letta said the aging of society due to the falling birthrate is a common challenge for Japan and Italy and underscored the need to consider how the number of active elderly people can be expanded. Prime Minister Abe agreed.
3. Suggesting that Prime Minister Abe's economic policies would serve as a good model for Italy's economy, Prime Minister Letta said he would like him to visit Italy to deliver a speech on his economic policies. Prime Minister Abe expressed gratitude for the invitation.
4. Lastly, Prime Minister Abe asked for Prime Minister Letta's understanding and cooperation on a Japanese request for the relaxation and removal of EU's import restrictions on Japanese agricultural products.