THE Taoiseach, Mr Bruton, told the Prime Minister of Japan, Mr Rytaro Hashimoto, at a meeting here yesterday that he would like to see trade intensified between the two countries, with increased assistance for Irish companies exporting to Japan. He stressed the attractiveness of Ireland as an entry point into the European market.
Mr Hashimoto acknowledged the present steady economic relationship between the two sides and agreed that it could he further developed. He welcomed Irish Japanese exchanges and suggested that they should be explored as possible sources of Japanese speaking Irish people who could assist Japanese investments overseas.
The two men also discussed the continuing efforts to bring peace to Northern Ireland and the need for an effective international partnership against crime.
Mr Hashimoto referred warmly to the various cultural links between the two countries and showed an awareness of Irish life when he congratulated the Taoiseach on Meath's victory in Sunday's All Ireland final.
At a press conference following the Japan EU summit, Mr Hashimoto said he very much appreciated the opportunity to establish personal friendships with his EU counterparts. He said stronger ties between the two sides could result in a partnership which would provide stability and structure to the post Cold War world.
There was a mutual desire for both financial and structural reform within the United Nations, continued support from both sides in the stabilising of conditions in the former Yugoslavia and the Korean Peninsula and the inclusion of China in the WTO (World Trade Organisation).
He made a special note of their joint commitment to fight international organised crime, not just in the well established areas of drugs and terrorism, but also in the hi-tech world of cyberspace.
The Taoiseach said the summit demonstrated a maturity in the Japan EU relationship, which was evident in the wide range of issues that were covered, including human rights in Myanmar, international crime and reform of the UN. The summit had a comparatively higher political content than previous summits, he said.
He said both sides acknowledged the need to develop sound food sources for the growing world population which must be balanced with concern for th9 protection of the world's environment.
Mr Bruton also referred to the area of crime, especially with regard to the exploitation of the Internet for criminal uses. He mentioned the recent gruesome case of the paedophile ring in Belgium as an example and called for an improvement in and sharing of more effective crime fighting resources among the world community.
After complimenting Japan for its role in humanitarian aid, he said the summit had discussed all of the areas of potential crisis in the world. He said both sides are fully committed to the speeding op of the Middle East peace process and "will actively insist that existing agreements are enforced in full and in a spirit of co operation". Mr Bruton said later this was a reaffirmation of the original EU stance on Middle East peace talks and was "in no way meant as a response to recent developments".
The President of the European Commission, Mr Jacques Santer, said the EU should support the Middle East peace process from an economic point of view. Citing the huge unemployment rates in Palestinian territories, he said the EU could help relieve those problems by encouraging trade with a stable Palestinian state.
An important result of the summit, he said, was that the Japan EU partnership would play an increasingly important role in the pursuit of peace and security internationally. Mr Santer said the pleasant atmosphere and heavy agenda confirmed that bilateral relations were "intensive, strong and constructive".
He said Mr Hashimoto had been informed of the positive moves towards EMU in 1999 and towards expansion of the Union to the East and to the Mediterranean.
Later, the Taoiseach added there had been a discussion about importing pigmeat to Japan and liberalising the life and non life insurance markets.