Finance Minister Hiroshi Mitsuzuka departs Sept. 18 to attend a series of international financial meetings that will focus on the stability of Asian markets and the strength of the Japanese economy.
Given the turmoil in foreign exchange and capital markets throughout Southeast Asia over the past few months, it is only natural that financial stability in the region attract concern, one ministry official said. The minister's agenda begins with a first-ever gathering of finance ministers within the framework of the Asia-Europe Meeting, which will be held Sept. 19 in Bangkok.
On Sept. 20, the finance ministers and central bankers of the Group of Seven -- Britain, France, Germany, Japan, Canada, Italy and the United States -- will convene in Hong Kong for discussions on the global economy ahead of next week's annual meeting of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund, also to be held in the former British colony. A bilateral meeting between Mitsuzuka and U.S. Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin is also expected to be held the same day, before the G-7 talks.