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G7 Taormina Summit

From May 26 to 27, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe attended the G7 Summit held in Taormina, Italy. About a half of the G7 leaders, including President Trump, were participating in the G7 Summit for the first time. The leaders held candid discussions on securing global peace and security and realizing inclusive growth of the global economy, amid “a time of change” for the G7, and the deepening of issues such as North Korea, countering terrorism and violent extremism, and refugee issues.

Prime Minister Abe, based on his experience as the Chair of the previous G7 Summit, strongly emphasized the significance of G7 solidarity, as the first speaker, while also leading discussions on issues such as North Korea, the global economy and trade, and maritime security.

The leaders deepened their relationships of personal trust with one another, and agreed that the G7 that shares universal values will respond to the various issues they face with greater solidarity than ever before, as champions of the rules-based international community.

Japan-Argentina Summit Meeting

On May 19, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held a summit meeting with H.E. Mr. Mauricio Macri, President of the Argentine Republic.

Prime Minister Abe expressed his support for the President’s leadership in driving Mercosur and South America by promoting various free and open reforms.

Additionally, Prime Minister Abe explained that in light of the 120th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations in 2018 next year, he hopes to establish a new Japan-Argentina relationship.

As for the bilateral relations, Prime Minister Abe explained that as “strategic partners” that share fundamental values, he hopes Japan and Argentina will accumulate concrete outcomes through venues such as policy consultations, the World Trade Organization (WTO) Ministerial Conference and the G20 Summit that will be held in Argentina toward next year.

Prime Minister Abe mentioned that the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) resumed loan operations to the government of Argentina for the first time in twenty years, and stated that he hopes to continue promoting quality infrastructure investment. Prime Minister Abe also welcomed the creation of a “Roadmap for strengthening trade and economic relations” for the Japan-Argentina Joint Committee on Promoting Trade and Investment, the establishment of a bilateral dialogue on agriculture, livestock, fishing, forestry and agroindustrial sectors, as well as the progress with discussions on trade of agricultural products.

Prime Minister Abe welcomed the signing of a memorandum of cooperation on a working holiday program, which is Japan’s first agreement of this kind with a Latin American country, along with stating that he intends to further advance exchanges of nationals, including people-to-people exchanges, sports and tourism, toward the success of the 2018 Youth Olympic Games and the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games.