Chancellor Merkel and PM Abe meet in Tokyo

World Today

Merkel

A discussion of the world’s wartime past and it’s volatile present were some of the topics discussed at the start of a two-day visit by German Chancellor Angela Merkel to Japan.
It was her first visit to the country in seven years. CCTV’s Terrence Terashima filed this report from Tokyo.

Highlights:

  • Chancellor Merkel and PM Shinzo Abe discussed number of multilateral and bilateral issues, including Ukraine situation, Greece in Eurozone, Islamic state and UN reform.
  • Trade between Japan and European Union and energy cooperation were also discussed, paving way for G7 summit in June.
  • Angela Merkel has urged Japan to confront its wartime conduct, ahead of the 70th anniversary of the end of the Second World War.
  • Diplomatic tensions continue as Japan’s stance on historical issues strain relations with its neighbors.
  • On energy, Berlin and Tokyo have agreed on cooperation on renewable energy.
  • Germany is in a process of phasing out nuclear energy, where as Japan is about to restart some of its dormant nuclear power plants, postponing decision to phase out nuclear energy in the future. Merkel calls Japan to take the same road as Germany.