New Zealand Prime Minister Jenny Shipley encouraged Japan on March 10 to stimulate domestic demand, saying that stronger growth in Japan will help Asian countries that are suffering from economic crisis.
"Some of the countries that are under pressure would benefit from the greater demand that is likely to emerge from the Japanese consumers," Shipley told a news conference at the Japan National Press Club.
She said opening the Japanese market is a matter for the Japanese government to deal with, but can be achieved through trade and investment liberalization processes under the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum.
Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto told Shipley on Monday that Japan will further open up the market through deregulation.
Shipley, meanwhile, said that very few matters between Japan and New Zealand require the attention of the prime ministers, but added that the two countries need to resolve a dispute over fishing quotas for southern bluefin tuna.
She said it is "simply the issue of the time" and she will find processes and mechanisms to deal with the issue in a constructive manner.
