Press Conference by the Press Secretary 1 November 1996

Visit to Japan by Prime Minister Jean Chretien of Canada
Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ken Shimanouchi: My first announcement concerns the visit by Prime Minister Jean Chretien of Canada to Japan. Prime Minister Chretien will make an Official Working Visit to Japan from 26 November to 30 November. During their stay in Japan, Prime Minister Chretien and Mrs. Chretien will be received in audience by Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan. Prime Minister Chretien will also have official talks with Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto. The Government of Japan sincerely welcomes the visit of Prime Minister Chretien and Mrs. Chretien, which will further strengthen the friendly relations existing between Japan and Canada.
Visit to Japan of Minister by Foreign Affairs Evgenii Maksimovich Primakov of the Russian Federation
Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ken Shimanouchi: At the invitation of the Government of Japan, Minister of Foreign Affairs Evgenii Maksimovich Primakov of the Russian Federation will visit Japan from 14 November through 17 November to attend the seventh Japan-Russia Foreign Minister's Regular Consultations. At the consultations, views will be exchanged on various issues regarding relations between Japan and Russia, and on international issues of common concern.

Those are the announcements that I wanted to make, and I will be delighted to respond to any questions that you might have.
Human rights issues in the People's Republic of China
Q: In Beijing, there was the sentencing of democracy-seeking Mr. Wang Dan. Does the Japanese Government have any comment on that?

A: Although the Government of Japan is keenly interested in matters related to human rights and democracy, I will have to refrain from making comments on this court decision since we do not know the factual context of this specific case.
Economic assistance to former East Germany
Q: In the meeting today between Chancellor Kohl and Prime Minister Hashimoto are they discussing building up former East Germany's economy? Has the government specified any methods of financial assistance?

A: I will have to get back to you regarding this issue.
Collection of information regarding human rights issues in the People's Republic of China
Q: Referring to the sentencing of Mr. Wang Dan. You said that you don't have any facts on this. Is their any requests or attempts on the side of the Japanese Government to get those facts? Have you requested anything?

A: The Government of Japan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs collects information on important developments in the world. At this stage we do not have sufficient information to make comments on this specific case.
Scheduled fishery talks between Japan and Taiwan this year
Q: Can you tell me is it possible that Taiwan and Japan will hold a third round of talks this year?

A: As you know, we have already held two rounds of talks. The possibility of holding a third round of talks is something that has to be discussed through private groups on both sides through normal channels. We are not aware of any specific dates being set for the third round of talks. I think this is something that needs to be discussed between the two private organizations.
Schedule for the APEC Leaders Meeting in the Philippines
Q: Is their any plan for Prime Minister Hashimoto to hold any vertical or lateral talks with any particular countries at the upcoming APEC meeting?

A: We are still in the process of coordinating our schedule with the schedules of other leaders attending the meeting. Therefore, no agreement has been reached on any particular bilateral meeting. We will be working on that in the days to come.
Agenda for the Japan-Russia Foreign Minister's Regular Consultations
Q: Has the visit of Russian Foreign Minister Primakov been mentioned already?

A: Yes it has. He will visit Japan from 14 November to 17 November. The purpose of the visit is to attend the seventh Japan-Russia Foreign Minister's Regular Consultations. At the Consultations we expect that the two foreign ministers will exchange views on various issues regarding relations between Japan and the Russia, and on international issues of common concern. I believe you know the background of this meeting. At the time of the meeting between Prime Minister Hashimoto and President Boris Yeltsin of the Russian Federation held in April in Moscow, they reaffirmed that the two countries should further develop their relations on the basis of the Tokyo Declaration. They also agreed to reactivate the peace treaty negotiations at the foreign minister level. This meeting of the two foreign ministers that is taking place this month is going to be held in keeping with this agreement between the top leaders. We think it is important in this new situation -- against the background of this post-election situation in Russia -- that the two countries move the bilateral relationship forward, including the aspect of the territorial issues, and also strengthen cooperative relations in a broad range of areas. This is the basic position that Japan will be bringing to the bilateral talks taking place approximately two weeks from now.

Q: Do you have any kind of specific aims for this particular visit?

A: The purpose of the visit is as I told you. We are still working on the agenda. We do not have the details of the agenda worked out yet. But, the purpose of the visit is as I explained to you, to move forward the relationship based on the Tokyo Declaration, and to strengthen cooperation in a broad range of areas.
Schedule of meetings at the Japan-Russia Foreign Minister's Regular Consultations
Q: Is the Prime Minister of Japan going to meet Foreign Minister Primakov?

A: We do not have the details of his schedule yet. It is still being worked on. What I can tell you for sure is that Foreign Minister Primakov will be meeting his counterpart.
Japan-Russia territorial issues
Q: Do you foresee any kind of progress in the settlement of this territorial issue during these negotiations?

A: I do not think that it would be appropriate for me to make predictions on the outcome of these talks, except to say that we look forward to holding substantive talks with Foreign Minister Primakov.
Possible visit to Japan by Minister of Defense Army General Igor Rodionov of the Russian Federation
Q: Are you going to discuss such topics as the bilateral dialogue concerning security matters, or the forthcoming visit by the Russian Defense Minister?

A: Again you are asking me to speculate. But, with regard to the visit of the Minister of Defense Army General Igor Rodionov of the Russian Federation, we have proposed to the Russian side -- this was last month when the Vice-Minister Grigorii Borisovich Karasin of the Russian Federation was in town -- that a meeting at the working level be held in December in preparation for an eventual visit by the Defense Minister Rodionov. I am not aware if there has been a response to this proposal put forth by the Japanese side. That is how the matter stands with regard to the visit by Defense Minister Rodionov.

Q: The proposal was to have a preparatory meeting here in Tokyo?

A: I will have to check and get back to you on that.
Japanese Official Development Assistance (ODA) policy
Q: When Japan extends ODA to other countries, does Japan also consider the human rights situation of the receiving country? Is Japan worried about the sentencing of Mr. Wang Dan in China? Will this affect ODA in China?

A: I think that I have already said that since we do not have enough factual information on this court decision, we cannot make any comment on this. I think you are well aware of our ODA Charter, the four principles of the ODA charter. I will not go over them, but I can give you a copy of the text if you need one. Thank you very much.

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