Japan, Bulgaria agree to boost economic ties, cooperate on climate

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TOKYO, Jan. 26 Kyodo -
Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso and Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov agreed
Monday on the importance of boosting bilateral trade and investment, and on the
need to cooperate on establishing a new framework for tackling climate change,
according to Japanese Foreign Ministry officials.
In their summit talks at the prime minister's office in Tokyo, the two leaders
expressed their readiness to intensify trade and investment between the two
countries, agreeing that strong economic ties would help their countries to
develop overall bilateral relations, the officials said.
Aso and Parvanov also agreed on the need to work closely on creating a new,
effective international framework to succeed the Kyoto Protocol, which expires
in 2012, with an eye toward the 15th Session of the Conference of the Parties
to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, or COP15, in
Copenhagen in December.
During their talks, the Bulgarian president voiced support for Japan's efforts
toward resolving the North Korean nuclear, missile and abduction issues as well
as normalizing its ties with the reclusive nation.
Parvanov also expressed support for Japan's bid to become a permanent member of
the U.N. Security Council, the officials said.
On U.N. Security Council reform, the two leaders expressed their resolve to
join hands on expanding the number of permanent and non-permanent members based
on equitable representation, they said.
Earlier in the day, Parvanov had an audience with Emperor Akihito and Empress
Michiko at the Imperial Palace.
Japanese Prince Akishino and his wife, Princess Kiko, are set to visit Bulgaria
around May.
==Kyodo
2009-01-26 21:24:57