151st Session of the Diet Policy Speech by Minister for Foreign Affairs Makiko Tanaka to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defense of the House of Councillors
17 May 2001
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
(Tentative Translation)
Japanese
On the occasion of the convening of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defense of the House of Councillors, I would like to explain Japan's diplomacy.
It is a given that the essence of diplomacy is to protect and enhance national interests. As the Minister for Foreign Affairs, I will work with my top priority to ensure Japan's security and prosperity, and protect the lives and property of the people of Japan. Based on these, in order to ensure the stability and prosperity of the world, which is of great importance to Japan, Japan will play a part that is commensurate with the standing of Japan in the international community. For this purpose, I will transmit the clearest possible message to the world and realize this message with firm action.
In ensuring the peace and prosperity of Japan, the cornerstone of Japan's diplomacy is the Japan-U.S. alliance. I will expand cooperation through dialogue between Japan and the United States on various bilateral, regional and global issues. At the same time, I will endeavor to ensure a more effective functioning of the Japan-U.S. Security Arrangements so as to enhance the Japan-U.S. alliance. Moreover, in the area of trade and economy, I will strive to build a Japan-U.S. economic relationship based not on friction but on further cooperation by seeking new ways to enhance dialogue with the United States. In addition, in order to lessen the burden on the people of Okinawa Prefecture, I will make every effort for the steady implementation of the Final Report of the Special Action Committee on Okinawa (SACO), including the relocation and return of the Futenma Air Station.
Today in relations with neighboring countries of Japan - the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Korea (ROK) - some issues such as the history textbook issue exist. I am determined to make every effort to resolve such issues in order that they do not become an obstacle to the good relations Japan enjoys with these countries. The Foreign Ministers' Meeting of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) will be held in Beijing at the end of this month. Upon the approval of the Diet, I will attend the meeting and on that occasion will hold talks with the Foreign Ministers of both the PRC and the ROK with the intention to enhance relations with both countries.
Concerning the Russian Federation, my relationship with that country started at the Japan-Soviet Union Summit Meeting of 1973, and since that time I have followed issues relating to Russia with close attention. I will make efforts to promote Japan-Russia relations in a widerange of areas, such as in peace treaty negotiations, in economic fields and in cooperation on the international arena. Regarding the peace treaty negotiations, I will firmly take over the results that have been achieved thus far, up to the recent Irkutsk Summit Meeting, and I will engage myself in the negotiations based upon the consistent policy of concluding a peace treaty through the solution of issues concerning the attribution of the Four Islands.
With respect to the normalization talks between Japan and North Korea, I will work tenaciously to normalize postwar relations with North Korea in close coordination with the United States and the ROK, in a manner that can contribute to the peace and stability of the Northeast Asian region. Furthermore, through such Japan-North Korea dialogues, I will make my utmost efforts toward resolving humanitarian and security issues with North Korea.
As a principal member of the international community, Japan must endeavor to address various global challenges and to build an international community allowing each and every individual on the Earth to live in happiness, radiating positive energy. To this end, the United Nations, a unique universal international organization, must be strengthened, and I will make efforts toward the realization of United Nations reforms, including Security Council reform. On the economic front, I will endeavor for the launch of the new round of negotiations at the World Trade Organization (WTO) at the Fourth Ministerial Conference in Qatar this November in order to strengthen the multilateral free trade system under which Japan has consistently prospered in the postwar era. As regards global environmental issues, I will do my utmost with a view to making the Kyoto Protocol enter into force by the year 2002. At the same time, I will exert my fullest efforts to ensure the constructive participation of the United States, the world's largest emitter of CO2, in negotiations toward the entry into force of the Kyoto Protocol.
Apart from these issues, various tasks are mounting in the area of diplomacy. I will address such matters that ought to be resolved from a long-term perspective by establishing firm strategies, and devote myself to improving Japan's crisis management capacity so that issues which require immediate response will be dealt with in a swift and appropriate manner. I am resolved to address Japan's diplomacy with my fullest efforts from the viewpoint of the people of Japan and humbly ask for the guidance and encouragement of Chairman Hattori and members of the Committee.
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