Crown prince meets Merkel in Germany, briefed on nuclear policy

Japan's Crown Prince Naruhito met with German Chancellor Angela Merkel at her office in Berlin on Thursday, receiving a briefing from her on the energy policy of the country, which is seeking to abandon nuclear power in the wake of Japan's nuclear disaster.
''In Japan, too, interest in renewable energy is growing,'' the crown prince said in response to Merkel's briefing, according to Japan's Imperial Household Agency.
Merkel expressed condolences over the March 11 quake and tsunami, which killed more than 15,000 people and left close to 7,500 others missing mostly in Japan's northeast, pledging to extend as much assistance to Japan as possible in accordance with its requests.
The crown prince, meeting with the German chancellor for the first time on his official visit to Germany, expressed gratitude for the offer, according to the agency.
The crown prince also met with Norbert Lammert, president of Germany's parliament, before meeting with Merkel. He also attended a welcoming ceremony at the Brandenburg Gate.
The crown prince is the Japanese side's honorary head of events to commemorate the 150th anniversary of friendship between Japan and Germany.