4. Promotion of Cultural Exchange Programs between Japan and France
Cultural exchange programs between Japan and France have been making smooth progress in a wide variety of fields. The state visit of President Jacques Chirac in November 1996 provided the momentum for the signing of the "Twenty Actions for the Twenty-first Century" with Prime Minister HASHIMOTO Ryutaro. This accomplishment reflects the development of a close bilateral cultural relationship between Japan and France. The Maison de la Culture du Japon a Paris was established in 1997. Mutual understanding between Japan and France has also deepened remarkably due to the events that took place in many parts of both countries during the "Japan Year in France" (in 1997) and the "France Year in Japan" (in 1998).