TOKYO: Japanese Finance Minister Jun Azumi on Tuesday said Europe was close to a resolution of its debt crisis and urged the continent's leaders to close the deal for the sake of the global economy.
"The European issue is in its final stage. Focus is on whether (Europe) can construct a scheme that could offer a sense of relief to the world," Azumi told reporters. "We want them to firmly get that done."
European Union leaders and IMF chief Christine Lagarde held a first summit on Sunday aimed at overcoming a crisis that has threatened to pitch the world into a fresh recession.
They will meet again for the second summit on Wednesday.
Japan's export-dependent economy has suffered from the uncertainty plaguing Europe as sovereign debt levels have spiralled.
Investors' desire to seek shelter from the storm has helped drive the safe-haven yen higher over recent months. A high yen punishes exporters by making their goods more expensive and dragging on repatriated profits.
Japan's government has repeatedly protested about the strength of the unit and has intervened in a bid to drive it down, but has failed to have any long-term impact.
The Japanese unit hit a fresh record high of 75.78 to the dollar during New York trade Friday.
The yen was trading at 76.15 to the greenback early Tuesday after Azumi reiterated a warning that he could take "decisive steps" to tame the currency's strength.
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