Press Conference by the Press Secretary September 30, 1997

Press conference announcements
1. Twenty-fifth anniversary of the normalization of Japan-China relations
  Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hiroshi Hashimoto: Yesterday, Japan and China marked the 25th anniversary of normalization of relations between the two countries. Japan-China relations have recently seen a number of close exchanges of views between Japanese and Chinese leaders. I do not intend to bore you, but I would like to just cite how closely the mutual visits have taken place, such as the Summit Talks between Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto and President Jiang Zemin of the People's Republic of China on the occasion of the APEC Meeting in Manila last November, the visit to China by then-Minister for Foreign Affairs Yukihiko Ikeda last March, and the visit to China earlier this month by Prime Minister Hashimoto. On the occasion of the recent United Nations General Assembly in New York, Minister for Foreign Affairs Keizo Obuchi held talks with Minister of Foreign Affairs Qian Qichen.
  
  Discussions were also held between Japanese and Chinese economic ministers at the recent ASEM Economic Ministers' Meeting. As for future plans, Premier Li Peng of the People's Republic of China is scheduled to visit Japan in the first half of November this year, and President Jiang Zemin is scheduled to visit Japan sometime next year. I think there will be other opportunities this year for Japanese and Chinese leaders to have contacts, such as the Vancouver APEC Meeting in November and the informal ASEAN Summit in December, as well as the ASEM Meeting which is scheduled for next year. In addition, mutual visits by the Diet members and members of financial and economic circles are also increasing, including the current visit to China by former Prime Minister Noboru Takeshita and related individuals from financial circles. Relations between Japan and China on the 25th anniversary of the normalization of relations are, therefore, marked by vigorous and wide-ranging exchanges at various levels. I look forward to the further development of these bilateral relations in the future.
2. ASEM Economic Ministers' Meeting
  Spokesman Hashimoto: On 27 and 28 September, as you know, the first ASEM Economic Ministers' Meeting was held in Makuhari in Chiba Prefecture. You are already familiar with the nature and the results of the meeting. In regard to the Investment Promotion Action Plan and the Trade Facilitation Action Plan, which are the specific achievements of the meeting, Japan actively led the meeting as Chair to speed progress in drafting negotiations through, for example, laying the groundwork among related countries. In this way, as Chair of the meeting, Japan played the significant role toward advancement in the ASEM economic areas. This meeting which followed the ASEM Finance Ministers' Meeting on 19 September, as well as the Foreign Ministers' Meeting last February, has established the ASEM process toward the Second Asia-Europe Summit Meeting to be held next April. The focus on this point will be on coordinating these results, while making progress in political areas, as well.
Japan-U.S. Guidelines for Defense Cooperation
Q: Regarding the reaction of China toward the new security agreement with the United States, up until now, the Chinese leadership is still worried. What can Japan do to make China more comfortable or at ease?

Spokesman Hashimoto: Regarding the new Japan-U.S. Guidelines for Defense Cooperation, Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto himself explained the nature of the Guidelines to his counterpart in China at the beginning of September when he visited Beijing. At that time, Prime Minister Hashimoto stated in his press conference that he did his best to explain to his counterpart the nature of the Guidelines. But at the same time, his statement alone could not get rid of their possible concern about the Guidelines. So, he said that Japan will continue to provide explanations on the Guidelines to the Chinese Government. In New York, the so-called 2+2 Meeting was held, and both Japan and China finally announced the Review of the Japan-U.S. Guidelines for Defense Cooperation. Foreign Minister Obuchi met Foreign Minister Qian Qichen and explained the nature of the Guidelines. At that time -- I was there also -- Foreign Minister Qian Qichen said that both countries should abide by the important documents such as the Japan-China Joint Communiqué and the Peace and Friendship Treaty when we normalize the diplomatic relations. Foreign Minister Qian Qichen stated that Prime Minister Hashimoto said in Beijing that Japan would not support a two-China policy and would not support the idea of an independent Taiwan. Foreign Minister Qian Qichen said that Japan should continue to maintain these positions. Foreign Minister Obuchi agreed on this. By doing so, we hope that China understands more about our friendly policies toward China; and we will continue to do so in the future. We intend to dispatch senior officials to Beijing sometime in the near future to explain the Review of the Guidelines once again to the Chinese Government. We will continue to tell them that we do not intend to change the fundamental structure of the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty. At the same time, we will continue to develop our friendly relations with China.
Request to visit Japan by Second Prime Minister Hun Sen of the Kingdom of Cambodia
Q: Some news reports say that Mr. Hun Sen, Second Prime Minister of Cambodia, will visit Tokyo on 1 November. Can you confirm this?

Spokesman Hashimoto: Second Prime Minister Hun Sen wants to visit Japan in the future. However, the concrete date of his visit to Japan has not been settled yet. We have already received, in advance, notification of his desire to visit Japan.
Japan-China-U.S. trilateral relations
Q: There was some talk in Washington about the possibility of a 3-way security dialogue moved up to a higher level, perhaps at the level of a government think tank. There was an article in the Nikkei on Saturday morning on this. What is Japan's position on this idea of a higher-level 3-way security dialogue?

Spokesman Hashimoto: You may recall that then-Foreign Minister Yukihiko Ikeda touched on the subject of strengthening trilateral relations between Japan, China and the United States in general terms when he visited Beijing last March. Since that time, Japan has been exchanging views on this subject with the United States and colleagues, and so on. According to the news report, Foreign Minister Qian Qichen told the visiting Japanese journalists that China can agree to hold that kind of meeting informally among academic circles. If I remember correctly, this is the first reaction from the Chinese Government on the development of the idea of a tripartite relationship. What Foreign Minister Qian Qichen said is encouraging. I am sure in the future, Japan, the United States and China will exchange views on this question. But at the same time, nothing concrete has been worked out yet, so we cannot tell you how soon or according to what formula the three parties can hold the first meeting of this sort.

Q: Is it correct to say that Japan supports 3-way talks at the level of a government think tank? I think that on the Japan side, Mr. Matsunaga's name was mentioned.

Spokesman Hashimoto: Officially, I can tell you that it is important to deepen dialogue on security matters between Japan, China and the United States. Up until now, informally, the Japanese side has been exchanging views with the United States and China. If the Chinese Government can agree to launching academic level 3-way talks, this in turn will match what the Government of Japan has been saying so far. Therefore, on the basis of what Foreign Minister Qian Qichen said, I think that in the future, the relevant people will have a chance to exchange views on what we can do about this topic.

Q: When you say academic talks, what do you mean?

Spokesman Hashimoto: Nongovernmental talks.

Q: That means that that would exclude a government-affiliated think tank, or could a government-affiliated think tank be involved in academic talks?

Spokesman Hashimoto: At present we cannot say anything definitive, but you are familiar with the experience of Ambassador Nobuo Matsunaga's institute in talks on security in Northeast Asia with several institutes, and so on. This is just an example, but we have not yet made our position on this yet. However, it is a good sign that Foreign Minister Qian Qichen said something positive on this idea. Therefore, we would like to have the chance to further exchange views with the relevant individuals and decide what we can do about this.

Q: So, Ambassador Matsunaga's think tank could, in theory at least, be considered an academic organization?

Spokesman Hashimoto: We have not yet had talks on this matter yet. It is a bit too premature to say at this point. However, what Foreign Minister Qian Qichen said to visiting Japanese journalists is encouraging, because it is very important to step up dialogue on security matters between Japan, China and the United States.
Japan and North Korea
Q: Regarding North Korea's Kim Jong Il, it is reported that he will assume the top position of General Secretary of the Workers' Party in Pyongyang next week, 10 October. I think that he has interest in normalization talks between Japan and North Korea. Therefore, I think there will be a change after he assumes this position in the Workers' Party. Can I have Japan's comment regarding this matter?

Spokesman Hashimoto: We have been closely monitoring what has been happening in North Korea. We are collecting information on the possible assumption of Kim Jong Il as the General Secretary of the Workers' Party. If he assumes the position of General Secretary of the Workers' Party, we hope that it will mean that the responsibility of the leadership of North Korea will become much clearer, contributing to the peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula. As far as resumption of normalization talks is concerned, recently we held the preliminary talks. However, we are not yet in a position to say when we will actually have the next round of normalization talks. For the time being, we are carefully watching what is happening over there to find out whether or not a change will take place -- change in all sorts of directions. If Kim Jong Il really assumes the position of General Secretary, we will again have to follow what he will do in the field of foreign policy as General Secretary.
Request to visit Japan by Prince Norodom Ranariddh of the Kingdom of Cambodia
Q: What is Japan's stance on the possible visit to Japan of Prince Norodom Ranariddh?

Spokesman Hashimoto: Prince Nodorom Ranariddh of the Kingdom of Cambodia expressed his desire to visit Japan. But again, the date of his visit to Japan has not yet been settled. We, in general terms, think that Second Prime Minister Hun Sen's visit to Japan will be more imminent than Prince Ranariddh's visit to Japan. However, in general terms, we know that he wants to visit Japan in the future.

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