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The President of the Republic met with the Emperor of Japan and Japanese Prime Minister01.11.2004
 Within the framework of the official working visit President Arnold Rüütel today met in Tokyo with Emperor Akihito of Japan, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and also several influential businessmen.
In the morning during the meeting in the Imperial Palace with His Imperial Majesty primarily issues of culture and economy were discussed. President Rüütel introduced the tradition of Estonian Song Festivals to Emperor Akihito. Also Mrs. Ingrid Rüütel and Empress Michiko talked about possibilities of cultural cooperation. As Emperor Akihito is an internationally recognised ichthyologist, also the importance of nature preservation in today's world was discussed. The Estonian Head of State also invited the Emperor to visit Estonia.
After that President Rüütel and Mrs. Ingrid Rüütel attended the working lunch hosted by Hajime Sasaki, the Vice-President of the Japan Federation of Economic Organizations (Keidanren). During the lunch issues of bilateral economic cooperation between Estonia and Japan were discussed, focusing mainly on the possibilities to develop transit trade and tourism. Hajime Sasaki was the head of Keidanrei delegation on their visit to Estonia in March 2004.
The President of the Republic introduced the progress achieved by the Estonian ports and their strong future potential, which was considered to be important also by the representatives of Keidanrei. Mrs. Ingrid Rüütel talking about tourism potentials pointed out the Old Town in Tallinn, Estonian Song Festival tradition and cultural heritage of Kihnu Island, which all have been acknowledged by UNESCO. The President of the Estonian Association of Travel Agents, Anne Salmik pointed out that also Estonian nature and rest homes could be potentially interesting for Japanese people. The Governor of the Bank of Estonia, Vahur Kraft talked about the development of Estonian banking system and forthcoming transition to Euro.
 The President of the Republic also met with Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. At the meeting Prime Minister Koizumi expressed his readiness to further intensify bilateral cooperation between our countries, especially stressing the existence of potential common interests in the field of economy and information technology. The Prime Minister expressed his satisfaction about Estonian EU membership, noticing that this would in every way facilitate also the development of bilateral cooperation. Minister of Economic Affairs and Communications, Andrus Ansip talked in detail about the development of information technology and business environment in Estonia. President Rüütel introduced to Prime Minister Koizumi Estonian experience of reforms and its possibilities as a target country for investors.
In the evening President Rüütel met with Koki Kobayashi, a member of the House of Representatives of the Diet, the former Deputy Minister of Finance who is an influential person in business circles.
Minister of Economic Affairs and Communications Andrus Ansip today met separately with Japanese Minister of Economic Affairs, Trade and Industry Sanzo Hosaka, and Governor of the Bank of Estonia Vahur Kraft met Governor of the Bank of Japan Toshihiko Fukui. The members of Estonian business delegation visited the Hitachi Research Centre. The members of business delegation got acquainted with the progress in the field of bio- and nanotechnology and biometrics. It was stressed that bringing new technologies to the market has to be done step-by-step, taking into account long-term development perspectives and at the same time putting a value on people. Estonian business people visited also the headquarters of Toyota Motor Corporation, where Minister Ansip introduced Estonian business environment, and pointed out new more favourable conditions for bringing Japanese vehicles to the Baltic market.
Public Relations Unit of the Office of the President
Tokyo, November 1, 2004
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