Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on Saturday predicted Germany's success in the World Cup soccer final, and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder expressed confidence that Japan's slumping economy would recover soon.
Koizumi and Schroeder discussed topics ranging from economic policy to World Cup soccer, while flying to Japan together from the Group of Eight summit in Kananaskis, Alberta.
Schroeder hitched a ride with Koizumi aboard a Japanese government jet to watch the German national soccer team play Brazil in the World Cup final Sunday in Yokohama.