(* This is a provisional translation by an external company for reference purpose only. The original text is in Japanese.)

Press Conference by Minister for Foreign Affairs Masahiko Koumura

Date: Tuesday, January 15, 2008, 9:40 a.m.
Place: Briefing Room, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Main topics:

Signing of the Japan-Laos Investment Agreement
Japanese Language Proficiency of Foreign Nationals Residing in Japan
Visit to Japan by the Special Envoy for the President-Elect of the Republic of Korea (ROK)
Election of Legislators in Taiwan

1. Signing of the Japan-Laos Investment Agreement

Minister:
Approval was granted for the signing of the Japan-Laos Investment Agreement at today's Cabinet meeting. As such, tomorrow afternoon the Japan-Laos Investment Agreement will be signed by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith and me. This agreement will make it possible for Japanese investors to confidently invest in Laos and should lead to a strengthening in the economic relations between our two countries. The signing will take place during the Japan-Mekong Foreign Ministers' Meeting tomorrow. By providing assistance to the further development of the Mekong region, this will contribute to eliminating the economic disparities within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and thereby will contribute to promoting further integration in ASEAN.

Related Information (Press Release)

2. Japanese Language Proficiency of Foreign Nationals Residing in Japan

Minister:
A decision has been taken to initiate discussions between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Justice at the directors' level with a view to giving priority to considering the Japanese-language ability of foreign nationals who are long-term residents in Japan with regard to immigration and visa status. It is important for those foreign nationals themselves living in Japan to be able to speak Japanese in order to enhance their quality of life. This is also important for Japanese society. We hope that this will encourage foreign nationals residing in Japan to increase their Japanese-language ability as well as enhance the trend to study the Japanese language in every country as preparation for coming to Japan. This topic has been pointed out in the past, but the discussions remain at a very slow pace. Now that actual discussion will take place at the directors' level I hope that this matter will proceed.

Question:
Regarding this matter of Japanese-language proficiency, have you set a target date for when the discussions should come to a conclusion?

Minister:
No, we have not gotten that far yet. We have only just now put these discussions into place.

Question:
This does not take long, does it?

Minister:
The Government already has in place comprehensive measures for "foreign nationals as residents of Japan." In that context, we have decided to launch discussions at the directors' level placing special emphasis on Japanese-language ability of the foreign nationals. Right now, that is all I can tell you and as such I cannot state any set target date or possible content of the conclusion.

Question:
Are you considering something like not providing visas to people who want to stay for long periods of time in Japan but cannot speak Japanese? Could you give us some more concrete information about the content of what is to be discussed?

Minister:
What has been decided is that consideration will take place at the directors' level. A decision has been taken to place emphasis on the Japanese-language ability of foreign nationals living in Japan. Therefore Japanese-language ability by itself may not be a deciding factor, which decides "on" and "off." Discussions will take place at the directors' level to determine just how much importance to place on the Japanese-language ability of foreign nationals.

Question:
Has a decision been made on when the first meeting will take place for discussions at the directors' level?

Minister:
I do not know whether a decision in that regard has been taken or not. I have received a report that at least a decision has been made to launch a meeting to discuss this matter.

Question:
In other countries there is the negative view that if the ability to speak the language of a country is one of the basic conditions as to whether or not a person should be allowed to enter that country then it may result in people who desire to go to that country not being able to do what they want. Have you given any consideration to such concerns?

Minister:
If this was a matter with only positive associations there would be no need whatsoever to discuss it, and we could certainly take a decision quite easily and quickly. We will discuss this matter since there are both pros and cons. Still, the fact that we give consideration to this matter indicates that our starting point is that there are more positive associations than negative ones. Naturally, there are various influences from both sides and therefore we will not take an all-or-nothing approach. We will discuss this matter in a careful way not to go too far, but to do what should be done.

3. Visit to Japan by the Special Envoy for the President-Elect of the Republic of Korea (ROK)

Question:
I understand that later on today you will talk with a Special Envoy from the ROK. What will you talk about in that meeting?

Minister:
Are you asking me to imagine what will take place later? Since he will come as the Special Envoy of the President-Elect of the ROK, I am looking forward to listening to what the Special Envoy has to say. Moreover, Japan and the ROK share exactly the same view on importance of the Japan-ROK relations. That is why from my side I would like to talk about how we can improve even more the important relations between Japan and the ROK. First of all, I will listen to what the Special Envoy has to say.

4. Election of Legislators in Taiwan

Question:
What is your view of the election of the legislators in Taiwan?

Minister:
That was decided by the people of Taiwan and therefore I acknowledge it as the result.

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