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CONFIDENTIAL
PRIME MINISTER'S MEETING WITH MR SONODA, 21 MAY
SPEAKING NOTES
1.
Grateful for Mr Ohira's message and to Mr Sonoda for making contact personally with British Ministers before the Summit. We recognise Japan's important role in the world
of mutual today and wish to keep in close touch on matters
concern political and economic.
Maintaining the Anglo-
Japanese dialogue and strengthening Anglo-Japanese relations
Regret inability
о
are
a high priority for the new Government.
to stay on in Japan after the Summit.
2.
Importance of Japan's contribution to the solution of world economic problems underlined by the holding of the
Summit for the first time in Tokyo.
We must work together
on policies for combatting inflation and unemployment, reducing excessive surpluses and deficits and accommodating higher oil prices and energy shortages. We shall be looking particularly
to surplus countries, including Japan, who have a special responsibility towards their trading partners and towards the oil-less developing countries.
3.
(If time permits) Brief account of the New Government's current priorities and main longer term objectives.
Far Eastern Department
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
18 May 1979
CONFIDENTIAL