German chancellor Angela Merkel is familiar with Cold War diplomacy, but on Wednesday she had her first encounter with Cool Biz diplomacy.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who met Merkel in Tokyo to discuss climate change, told the chancellor he had asked his entourage to take off their ties as part of his "Cool Biz" campaign to save energy.

Dressed in a red suit, Merkel, Germany's first female chancellor, pointed out that the tie-less dress code didn't apply to her anyway.

"The men are all following the rule, they even seem to be quite glad," she said.

Japan's "Cool Biz" campaign urges office workers and politicians to shed their suits and ties during summer to cut the use of air-conditioners and reduce electricity use and related greenhouse gas emissions.

译文：

德国总理安格拉•默克尔十分熟悉“冷战”外交，但本周三，她却首次遭遇了“清凉商务”外交。

日本首相安倍晋三与德国总理默克尔就气候变化问题在东京会晤。安倍首相对默克尔总理说，为了响应“清凉商务”运动，他让随行人员摘掉领带以节约能源。

身着红色套装的默克尔总理说，无论怎样，这种“无领带”的穿法不适合自己。默克尔是德国首位女总理。

她说：“在场的男士纷纷摘掉领带，他们看起来甚至非常高兴、（很乐意配合）。”

日本兴起的“清凉商务”运动鼓励办公室职员和政治官员夏季不穿西装、不打领带，以减少空调的使用，节约用电，并且减少温室气体的排放。