Japan’s Abe Meets with French, German, Canadian Leaders

August 25, 2019

Biarritz, France- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held bilateral meetings with the French, German and Canadian leaders just before the Group of Seven summit opened in France on Saturday. 

North Korea, which has fired projectiles including short-range ballistic missiles repeatedly, was the main topic at Abe's meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

The four leaders again confirmed their cooperation to realize North Korea's denuclearization and resolve the issue of Japanese citizens kidnapped by North Korea decades ago.

At their meetings in Biarritz, the four agreed to work together for the success of the three-day G-7 summit, chaired by Macron.

They also discussed the situation in Iran, a key agenda item in the Biarritz summit. The four also exchanged views on the Japanese-proposed vision to realize a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

With Canada's Trudeau, Abe talked about Hong Kong, where police have again clashed with protesters. Their discussions also covered Amazon rainforest fires. Jiji Press