Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said he hoped Europe’s “strong cohesion” will be preserved as he met French President Francois Hollande in Paris on March 20.
The two countries signed a declaration of intent of cooperation in civilian nuclear energy during Abe’s working visit.
President Hollande used the opportunity to call out North Korea’s recent provocative behaviour. North Korea fired four ballistic missiles towards Japan on earlier this month on March 6, and carried out its latest rocket-engine test March 19. “We are acting against nuclear proliferation. That’s why we condemn North Korea’s (missile) tests, and it developing its nuclear and ballistic programme in violation of all its international obligations. Japan knows that it can count on the full solidarity and support of France.”
Abe met with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Hanover earlier on March 20, and will meet with EU leaders Jean-Claude Juncker and Donald Tusk in Brussels on March 21.
Abe and Merkel called for a free trade deal to be reached quickly between Japan and the European Union, speaking on March 19 at the CeBIT technology fair.
