The Prime Minister of Finland, Matti Vanhanen recently announced plans to visit both Japan and South Korea in the near future. According to reports by the Finnish News Agency (STT), the government of Finland released a statement on Monday indicating that the trip would occur in early June.
A meeting between South Korea’s president, Lee Myung-bak, and Finland’s Prime Minister is scheduled to take place on June 5th. On the agenda are the topics of bilateral trade, political cooperation and important international issues.
In addition to speaking with the President, Mr. Vanhanen plans to engage in discussions with other prominent leaders in South Korea. While in South Korea, Mr. Vanhanen will attend the South Korean-Finnish economic forum. His agenda indicates that he will visit the demilitarised area between North and South Korea and take a tour of a shipyard owned by Hyundai.
Following his time in South Korea, Mr. Vanhanen will travel to Japan where he is scheduled to meet Emperor Akihito and former Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on June 9th and 10th.
While in Tokyo, Mr. Vanhanen will inaugurate FinNode, the new Finnish centre for innovation. He is scheduled to attend an economic conference concerning Japan and Finland and speak at the National Press Club of Japan.
According to the government’s statement, the President will be travelling to Asia with a business delegation.