Press release

AFR Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen to chair the EU Summit with Japan

05.07.02

Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen will visit Japan on 8 and 9 July 2002 as head of the delegation representing the EU at the Summit with Japan on 8 July 2002.

The purpose of the Summit is to strengthen the close co-operation between the EU and Japan.

The EU and Japan share views on a number of significant global issues. The EU and Japan provide 75 per cent of the world's development assistance and constitute the vanguard in the endeavours to limit the carbon dioxide emissions.

The agenda includes the joint EU-Japan action plan, which comprises key political, economic and cultural issues, including the upcoming World Summit in Johannesburg and the humanitarian efforts in Afghanistan and the Kyoto Protocol on reduction of CO2 emission.

The foreign policy situation and joint initiatives in relation to, among other areas, the Middle East, India and Pakistan and North Korea are also on the agenda. Furthermore, the preparations for the ASEM 4 Summit in Copenhagen in September will be discussed.

Before the Japan Summit, Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen states:

”The Summit is to build momentum for a number of joint global initiatives. The EU and Japan play a decisive political and economic role. We must live up to this role through support for increasing international co-operation, not least on protection of the environment and assisting the poorest countries.”

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Besides the EU-Japan Summit, the Prime Minister will conduct talks with Japanese Prime Minister Koizumi during the visit to Japan.

The Prime Minister will also have meetings with representatives of the Japanese and Danish business community, cultural life and the press.

The visit to Japan is the first visit made by a Danish Prime Minister since 1991.

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There will be a press conference with Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Prime Minister Koizumi and President of the European Commission Romano Prodi on 8 July at 4:00 PM at Prime Minister Koizumi's office, Press Conference Room, 1st floor..

Accreditation will be required.

Further information may be obtained from: Jesper Fersløv Andersen, +45 33 92 22 35.