ID :
12145
Fri, 07/11/2008 - 11:29
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/12145
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Fukuda, Harper agree to work for emperor's visit to Canada next year
TOKYO, July 11 Kyodo - Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda and visiting Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper agreed Thursday to work to realize a visit by Japanese Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko to Canada next summer, a Foreign Ministry officialsaid.
It would be the first time in 55 years for the Japanese emperor to visitCanada, which he last visited in 1953 when he was crown prince, the official said.
Following a request from Canada regarding a visit by the emperor and empress, the two leaders agreed to start making necessary arrangements to allow the emperor and empress to officially visit Canada at ''an appropriate time'' nextsummer, the official said.
Harper said it would be quite an honor if the emperor and empress were to visit Canada and the Canadian people would acknowledge it as a historic trip, theofficial said.
Fukuda and Harper also discussed people-to-people exchanges between the two countries, climate change, the further strengthening of economic ties andcooperation in the event of natural disasters.
On climate change, the two agreed that efforts by developing countries will become more important following the Group of Eight summit in Hokkaido, whichended Wednesday.
At the summit, the leaders of the G-8 countries reached a consensus with other major greenhouse gas emitters on the need for ''deep cuts'' in global emissions, while failing to reach agreement on a specific numerical target despite their call for the world to share the vision of halving emissions by2050.
Fukuda told Harper that developed countries need to press emerging economies in the run-up to a meeting in Copenhagen in 2009 to set a climate change frameworkto succeed the Kyoto Protocol, which covers the period up to 2012.
He also told Harper that Japan would like to discuss its proposed sectoralapproach and a benchmark for setting emissions reductions targets with Canada.
The sectoral approach involves determining potential reduction volumes on an industry-by-industry, area-by-area basis that would then be tallied for aquantified national target.
The leaders of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and theUnited States concluded their three-day meeting on Wednesday.
On economic issues, Harper showed strong interest in strengthening bilateralties as Canada is a leading food and energy supplier.
Harper told Fukuda that the two countries' economic relationship is beneficial to both sides and there is considerable room for expansion, and Fukuda responded that he would like the two countries to establish closer tiesespecially in the field of energy.
Harper also expressed hope that Japan will participate in the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction amid an increase in the number of international marriages and divorces that can result in childrenbeing forcibly taken to another country by a parent, the official said.
The convention states that children must be promptly returned to their country of habitual residence if they have been removed or held against the custodialrights granted to a person under the law of the state of habitual residence.
Fukuda said it is important to place top priority on children's welfare and Japan will consider holding discussions over the possibility of joining theconvention, the official said.
==Kyodo
It would be the first time in 55 years for the Japanese emperor to visitCanada, which he last visited in 1953 when he was crown prince, the official said.
Following a request from Canada regarding a visit by the emperor and empress, the two leaders agreed to start making necessary arrangements to allow the emperor and empress to officially visit Canada at ''an appropriate time'' nextsummer, the official said.
Harper said it would be quite an honor if the emperor and empress were to visit Canada and the Canadian people would acknowledge it as a historic trip, theofficial said.
Fukuda and Harper also discussed people-to-people exchanges between the two countries, climate change, the further strengthening of economic ties andcooperation in the event of natural disasters.
On climate change, the two agreed that efforts by developing countries will become more important following the Group of Eight summit in Hokkaido, whichended Wednesday.
At the summit, the leaders of the G-8 countries reached a consensus with other major greenhouse gas emitters on the need for ''deep cuts'' in global emissions, while failing to reach agreement on a specific numerical target despite their call for the world to share the vision of halving emissions by2050.
Fukuda told Harper that developed countries need to press emerging economies in the run-up to a meeting in Copenhagen in 2009 to set a climate change frameworkto succeed the Kyoto Protocol, which covers the period up to 2012.
He also told Harper that Japan would like to discuss its proposed sectoralapproach and a benchmark for setting emissions reductions targets with Canada.
The sectoral approach involves determining potential reduction volumes on an industry-by-industry, area-by-area basis that would then be tallied for aquantified national target.
The leaders of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and theUnited States concluded their three-day meeting on Wednesday.
On economic issues, Harper showed strong interest in strengthening bilateralties as Canada is a leading food and energy supplier.
Harper told Fukuda that the two countries' economic relationship is beneficial to both sides and there is considerable room for expansion, and Fukuda responded that he would like the two countries to establish closer tiesespecially in the field of energy.
Harper also expressed hope that Japan will participate in the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction amid an increase in the number of international marriages and divorces that can result in childrenbeing forcibly taken to another country by a parent, the official said.
The convention states that children must be promptly returned to their country of habitual residence if they have been removed or held against the custodialrights granted to a person under the law of the state of habitual residence.
Fukuda said it is important to place top priority on children's welfare and Japan will consider holding discussions over the possibility of joining theconvention, the official said.
==Kyodo
