PES visit to Japan, 12-17 May 2008
The PES visited Tokyo, Hiroshima and Okinawa from 12-17 May 2008, with a delegation led by Alain Richard, former Minister for Defense, Member of the Presidency of the PES, PS, France accompanied by MEP Glyn Ford, Member of the Committee on International trade, Labour Party, UK; MEP Antolin Sanchez Presedo, Member of the Delegation for relations with Japan, PSOE, Spain; Yonnec Polet, PES Political Adviser and Marialaura De Angelis, Office of Glyn Ford.
The PES delegation met the Social-Democratic Party of Japan (SI member), the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), RENGO (main Japanese Trade Union), the EC Delegation, several NGOs and personalities, and US Army officials. The PES delegation encountered deep interest in working on issues related to financial markets, climate change, global governance and regarding the region's future.
Early elections are expected to take place in autumn, and the DPJ is in a good position to win public support as an alternative to the ruling liberal conservative Liberal Democratic Party, who has been in power in Japan almost without interruption since 1955.
Japan is the second economy in the world, and hosts strategic US military bases. The country, which has been officially pacifist since World War II, has long used aid as a key diplomatic tool. It was the world's top aid provider in 1991, and continues to be an important donor to developing countries: it decided on May 20 to double its financial assistance to Africa by 2012. Japan will also host the G8 Summit in July.
Watch the photos:
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