LORD MALLOCH-BROWN VISIT JAPAN (19/02/2009)

Lord Malloch-Brown visit Japan(19/02/2009)

Lord Malloch-Brown visited Tokyo as part of a regional visit to Asia on 19 February 2009. The aim of the visit was to set out the objectives for the London Summit and to seek Japan's views on these objectives and how best to deliver them.

The London Summit that will take place on 2 April 2009 will follow on from the Washington Summit held in November last year. The Summit will look to make progress on a coordinated response to revive the global economy, improving our financial systems and agreeing principles for reform of international financial institutions.

During his visit Lord Malloch-Brown gave a speech to media at the Foreign Correspondent's Club Tokyo. He argued that due to increasing international economic interdependence, the current financial crisis is of a global nature, and therefore needed a coordinated global response. But Lord Malloch-Brown emphasised that the road to economic recovery should not come at the expense of progress on combating climate change or helping the developing world.

Lord Malloch-Brown stressed that the London Summit comes at a 'crossroads moment', where political leaders need to come together to find a way forward or we run the risk of retreating into rising protectionism.

Despite this stern message, Lord Malloch-Brown was optimistic noting that leaders across the world understand that this is a crisis that cannot be solved by domestic actions alone, and that a coordinated international response is required.

As Gordon Brown's personal envoy for the London Summit, Lord Malloch-Brown met with the Japanese Prime Minister, Taro Aso. In this meeting, Lord Malloch-Brown and Prime Minister Aso emphasised the agreed need for an ambitious response to this crisis. Lord Malloch-Brown also met Foreign Minister Nakasone in order to seek Japanese views on the aims of the London Summit.internet Last Update : Mey 22, 2008

Penulis : Drs.Simon Arnold Julian Jacob