(* 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 Hirofumi Nakasone

Date: Tuesday, February 17, 2009, 8:53 a.m.
Place: Minister's Room in front of the House

Main topics:

Opening Statement: Japan-Switzerland Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA)
Visit to Japan by Mrs. Hillary Clinton, Secretary of State of the United States

1. Opening Statement: Japan-Switzerland Economic Partnership Agreement

Minister:
At the Cabinet Meeting, a decision was made on the signing of the Agreement on Free Trade and Economic Partnership between Japan and the Swiss Confederation (Japan-Switzerland Economic Partnership Agreement). As a result, on 19 February, Mr. Doris Leuthard, Federal Councillor, Vice President of the Government of the Swiss Confederation and Head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, and I will be signing that document.

2. Visit to Japan by Mrs. Hillary Clinton, Secretary of State of the United States

Question:
Today, at long last, you will hold ministerial talks with Mrs. Hillary Clinton, Secretary of State of the United States. Please tell us of your thoughts in the run-up to that the talks.

Minister:
Given that this visit to Japan is the first foreign visit that the Secretary of State is making since assuming office, I believe it is indicative of the importance with which the Secretary of State and the Government of the United States view Japan, and of the importance they place on the Japan-U.S. Alliance. As such, I greatly welcome and highly appreciate it. There are various issues that we will discuss. In particular, there are various issues that we have in common regarding the international community, financial issues, economic issues, the issue of climate change and the so-called fight against terrorism. Furthermore, for my part, I intend to thoroughly discuss the issues that are facing the Asian region, in particular issues related to North Korea, and I intend to thoroughly confirm our cooperative arrangements. Regarding the abductions issue, the Secretary of State has also spoken on this matter and it is clear that she is greatly concerned about this issue and keeps the families of the abductees in mind. As such, I intend to ask for her assistance on this matter and confirm that we will be working together to resolve it.

Question:
The issues span a great spectrum. Are there any particular points about which you especially want the Secretary of State to come to a deeper understanding?

Minister:
First of all, given that we will be confirming the Japan-U.S. Alliance, as I stated earlier, I believe that it is truly important that a new U.S. administration has been established. Furthermore, issues relating to North Korea are extremely important issues for us, as well as other neighboring countries. Naturally, I know that the Secretary of State is fully aware of this, but I do intend to take advantage of this opportunity to thoroughly explain this to her. Furthermore, regarding the situation in the international community, Japan has assumed a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council and for that reason, I feel that Japan and the U.S. have a great responsibility to work together to solve various issues, as the largest and second largest economic powers in the world, beginning with the United Nations. I intend to thoroughly express my views on this point as well.

Question:
Regarding the economic issues, what kind of things are you hoping to talk about?

Minister:
Well, in fact, there is another minister who is directly in charge of those issues, but in April, there will be a G20 meeting in London. At the last Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Meeting and at the G20 meeting that took place in November of last year, Japan made proposals based on its past experiences. I believe that those proposals received high acclaim. At this meeting and then two months afterwards, I think that each of the countries will once again confirm the situation and discuss new measures to be taken. For Japan, the recovery of the international economy and the great difficulties prevailing in Japan's own economy are what I suppose the Prime Minister will be speaking about at that meeting.

Question:
Some media speculate that Japan and the U.S. will agree to hold summit talks between Prime Minister Aso and President Barack Obama sometime during the month of March. Do you expect to clarify the arrangements for that summit during today's talks?

Minister:
During the telephone talks held between Prime Minister Aso and President Obama regarding the Japan-U.S. summit meeting, both leaders reached an agreement to have a meeting at an early date, and given that a financial and economic summit will take place in London in April, we have informed the United States that we would like to realize the summit meeting prior to the meeting in London. I believe that the United States is currently considering that request.

Question:
Do you intend to fix those details during today's talks?

Minister:
I do suppose that that will come up in conversation.

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