Abe, Macron discuss ways to avoid Nissan-Renault rift

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held bilateral talks with French President Emmanuel Macron in Buenos Aires on Friday and expressed his view that the government should not get involved in the issue of the alliance between Nissan Motor Co., Renault SA and Mitsubishi Motors Corp.

Abe’s remarks are seen as a means to place restraints on the French side, which has been seeking an active engagement in the issue. The two leaders agreed that “it is important to maintain the stable relationship” of the alliance.

The meeting was requested by the French government, the largest shareholder of Renault, and lasted for about 15 minutes. Regarding the alliance, Abe stressed, “I expect discussions will proceed in a satisfactory manner for parties concerned.”

Meanwhile, according to Macron’s office, the French president expressed “his firm wish that the alliance should be preserved, along with the stability of the group.”

Over the issue of the alliance, Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Hiroshige Seko has taken the position of not interfering with private companies’ affairs, while French Economy and Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire has made statements apparently aimed at influencing the issue, saying that Renault’s leader should lead the alliance. It is unclear whether the summit meeting could resolve the difference of opinions between the governments.