Bono discusses AIDS, poverty with Japanese Prime Minister Abe

Nov 29, 2006, 7:50 GMT

Tokyo - Irish rock star Bono of U2 met with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Tokyo on Wednesday to discuss the international battles against poverty and AIDS in developing nations.

'Japan made a promise in the G8 (summit) in Gleneagles (last year) to double its aid to Africa,' Bono was quoted by the Kyodo News Agency as saying after his meeting. 'Some countries make promises and they don't keep them. Japan we trust to fulfill their promise and the world believes in the honour of a Japanese promise.'

'I found Prime Minister Abe to be a very warm man, very interested in these issues,' Bono said.

Abe reportedly spent more time than planned discussing the global concerns with Bono and said that he'd keep his word despite tight fiscal circumstances.

'He is very interested in looking at aid and development issues with new eyes,' Bono said as he asked Japan to play the leading role in the 'crucial issues of life and death.'

Bono said he presented Japan's premier with a gift of Armani sunglasses.

'(Prime Minister Abe) surprised me even further by putting on (the) sunglasses that I gave to him,' Bono said.

'Because I've always seen (US President) George Bush looking at my sunglasses... George Bush never put them on,' he said. 'The last pope, John Paul, he put them on, and Prime Minister Abe. Very Cool.'

The sunglasses are sold under the Product RED brand that Bono has launched involving major companies like Gap, Converse and Apple Computer. A percentage of the proceeds goes to the Global Fund to fight against AIDS.

Bono was in Tokyo ahead of World AIDS Day on Friday.