(* This is a provisional translation by "WIP ジャパン" for reference purpose only. The original text is in Japanese.)
Press Conference by Foreign Minister Taro Aso
Date: Tuesday, July 4, 2006, 10:53 a.m.
Place: Briefing Room, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Main topics:
- Cabinet Meeting/Informal Cabinet Meeting
- Democratic Party of Japan President Ozawa's visit to China
- The Retirement of Japan's Hidetoshi Nakata as a Professional Soccer Player
- Minister of Foreign Affairs Taro Aso's Visit to the Ukraine
- The Passing Away of Former Prime Minister Hashimoto
1. Cabinet Meeting/Informal Cabinet Meeting
2. Democratic Party of Japan President Ozawa's visit to China
Question:
Democratic Party of Japan President Ozawa is in China and is expected to meet today with President Hu Jintao. While he is meeting a succession of Chinese luminaries and being cordially welcomed, the Japan-China summit that should actually take place has not happened. What is your view of this warped state of affairs?
Minister:
It doesn't overly concern me. I would say that the more people he meets, the better.
Question:
President Ozawa stated in a public broadcast program that Japan, the United States and China form an equilateral triangle, but that, while the United States and China are there, Japan is missing. I think he was saying that Japan is not exercising its diplomacy properly. What is your view on this?
Minister:
I do not think Japan, the United States and China form an equilateral triangle. Basically, it is Japan and the United States that share common values. There may well be an isosceles triangle being formed, but nothing in the nature of an equilateral one.
Related Information (Japan-China Relations)
3. The Retirement of Japan's Hidetoshi Nakata as a Professional Soccer Player
4. Minister of Foreign Affairs Taro Aso's Visit to the Ukraine
Question:
Your visit to the Ukraine was a first. What are your thoughts on the results of the visit? Also, what is the significance, and your evaluation, of the strengthening of relations with the Ukraine?
Minister:
Looking back at the history of the Ukraine, it began life as a country as the principality of Kiev. In that sense it can be said to be an older country than Russia. It is a major nation of the Commonwealth of Independent States that formed with the break-up of the Soviet Union into fifteen, and has a population of about 46 million. Not much is known about the Ukraine in Japan; however I know of it as the place where the most famous helicopter in the world, the Sikorsky, has its origin, as well as where the planning was done for Soviet space exploration. The writer Gogol was Ukrainian, too. So in many ways the Ukraine has not been a country we were very familiar with, having been the biggest of a number of former satellite states. The President of Ukraine visited Japan last year and talked with the Prime Minister about our countries cooperating in a variety of ways. Arising from that, the first meeting was held and both sides agreed to proceed with technical cooperation, opinion exchange, and personal exchanges. Both sides were feeling their way, but being able to hold this first meeting was a good start.
Related Information (Press Release)
5. The Passing Away of Former Prime Minister Hashimoto.
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