Japanese foreign minister in Europe for trade talks

December 8, 1980

Japan's Foreign Minister Masayoshi Ito arrived to start an official tour of five West European countries expected to be dominated by talks on Japan's record trade surplus with the Common Market. Mr. Ito will hold talks with President Valery Giscard d'Estaing, Prime Minister Raymond Barre, and the secretary of state at the Foreign Ministry, Olivier Stirn. He flies to London Tuesday and goes on to Belgium, the Netherlands, and West Germany. The European Community has urged Japan to increase imports and cut exports, particularly of cars, to Europe.