FEC

FEC invited H. E. Mr. A. Bülent Meric, Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey to an Executive Luncheon Meeting at the Hotel Okura Tokyo on December 10. The meeting was held on the theme of “Current situation of Turkey and future prospects of Japan-Turkey relations”. Turkey is a country with traditional strong friendship with Japan. Last year the prime ministers of two countries visited each other country reflecting a strong political and diplomatic tie. On the other hand, Turkey suffers the Kurdish people problem as an internal affair, and the steering of the AKP government toward it is noted.

Mr. Hiroshi Saito, Chairman of FEC Japan-Middle East Cultural and Economic Exchange Committee, Honorary Advisor, Mizuho Financial Group, Inc. made a welcome remark, “Japan and Turkey keeps a strong friendship on the basis of the tragic accident of the Ertugrul and Russo-Japanese War. While the economic relations between the two countries are not so big, the EPA negotiation started and we can expect further Japanese investment in Turkey. Turkey shows an increasing importance politically and economically in the world. Today, I’m looking forward to Ambassador Meric’s speech on not only the political and economic topics but also Islamic State militants (ISIS) issues and so on.”

Ambassador Meric talked with detailed explanation and frank impressions about the Turkey-Japan relations and the current political and economic situation of Turkey.After the speech, there were active Q&As in a cozy environment such topics as the prospect of EPA negotiation of the two countries, promising industries and the possible cooperation in the third countries.