Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on Thursday welcomed the previous day's accord by World Trade Organization trade ministers to launch new multilateral trade negotiations.
"The new round of negotiations aims at not only liberalizing trade but also clarifying, improving and extending trade rules, including those on antidumping measures," Koizumi said in a statement. "I note with satisfaction that Japan's views have been reflected in the declaration for the most part, including on agriculture."
Koizumi also welcomed the accession of China and Taiwan to the WTO.