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On October 1, International Department Secretary General Chinami Nishimura met with former European Commission Vice President Gunter Verheugen (former Minister of State at the German Federal Foreign Office) and exchanged opinions about the relationship between Japan and the EU and a variety of other issues. The meeting was also attended by member of the House of Representatives Mieko Nakabayashi (Director of the Committee on Foreign Affairs in the House of Representatives).
Verheugen stressed the importance of Japan and the European Union “creating a stable and sustained relationship”, and expressed his willingness to work to further deepen the relationship. In response, Nishimura pointed out that “Japan and Europe share many common values” and stated that considering this, the two sides “should create a more strategic partnership”, emphasizing her desire to place importance on the relationship with Europe from now on.
The two sides discussed specific areas in which they could engage in cooperation and the way in which cooperation could be furthered, and agreed on the importance of exchanges not just between governments, but at a party-to-party level.
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