President Halonen and female ministers create interest among Japanese

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 President of the Republic Tarja Halonen and Dr Pentti Arajärvi started their official four-day visit to Japan amidst the fury of typhoon Tokage on Wednesday. During the first day of the visit President Halonen met Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and his entourage.
      President Halonen was accompanied by Minister of Social Affairs and Health Sinikka Mönkäre (SDP) as well as Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Paula Lehtomäki (Centre Party), whereas all their Japanese counterparts were male.
      According to President Halonen, the Japanese treated their female colleagues with great interest and respect. Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and his entourage were interested in the number of female Members of Parliament and female ministers in Finland, and a discussion followed of the equality between men and women, as well as their own efforts to promote equality in Japan.
     
Halonen started her official visit by telling her Japanese hosts that Finland would back up Japan in its endeavours to enter the United Nations Security Council.
      Prime Minister Koizumi is strongly campaigning for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council, as Japan is the world’s second largest contributor to the UN budget after the United States.
      Moreover, the delegation of about 30 Finnish business leaders and representatives of industrial organizations accompanying President Halonen on her visit are ready to seize upon the economic opportunities available in the Japanese economy. In the rather formal and ceremonial culture of Japan, the President’s authoritative presence is likely to further their economic efforts in the country.
     
The President’s visit will continue until Sunday, and today President Halonen met His Majesty Emperor Akihito. President Halonen is also to give a lecture on globalisation at the United Nations University and to visit the city of Kyoto.
      President Halonen’s visit prompted so much interest among the Japanese media that four journalists had made a trip to Finland in order to find out the President’s points of view in advance.
      This year marks the 85th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Finland, and the flags of Finland and Japan were seen in some streets of Tokyo. The storm-force winds and driving rain left them looking rather bedraggled.


Links:
  The President of the Republic of Finland
  Halonen speech at a Finnish-Japanese business seminar on "Towards the E-Society, Challenges for Finland and Japan"

Helsingin Sanomat