Saturday, June 26, 2010

So. I was Standing In Front of the Urinal Taking a Whiz, When...

...who should walk in but Japan's Minister of Finance....so we got to talkin'.

Real summit deals happen at dinner
"G8 and G20 leaders will sit down for hours in Toronto and Huntsville this weekend, discussing pressing issues during long formal meetings.

But often the most important conversations at these types of summits happen outside the board room, during dinners, coffee runs, sessions at the gym and even bathroom breaks."
[---]
"U.S. President George W. Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair bumped into each other at a hotel gym at 6 a.m. during the G8 summit in Kananaskis, Alta.

Running side-by-side on treadmills, they launched into a discussion of foreign policy.

"They hammered out a lot of the agreement on what would happen with Iraq,""
[---]
"While some may argue that summits are too costly to stage, with billions spent to bring leaders together, Graham said the face-to-face meetings and all the informal chances for conversation are invaluable.

Leaders get to know each other and feel they can call one another whenever an issue arises. The same goes for ministers and even staff members. This kind of interaction can't be achieved through a teleconference or over the internet..,"
[---]
"...one Japanese finance minister was able to carry on a discussion of economic policy with his U.S. counterpart in the bathroom..."

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