Press Conference by the Press Secretary 18 February 2000

1. Announcement on the visit to Japan of Prime Minister Willem Kok and Minister for Foreign Affairs Jozias Johannes Van Aartsen of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
2. Announcement on the visit to the United States of America of Minister for Foreign Affairs Yohei Kono
3. Announcement on the visit to the Republic of India of Senior Foreign Policy Advisor to the Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto
4. Issues relating to the dispatch of an electoral monitoring mission for the parliamentary election in the Republic of Tajikistan
5. Possible issues to be raised on the occasion of the visit to Japan of the Minister for Foreign Affairs Jozias Johannes Van Aartsen of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
6. Questions relating to the relocation of Futenma
7. Questions relating to the possible participation of the People's Republic of China in the G8 Summit
8. The main message to be conveyed by Minister for Foreign Affairs Yohei Kono to the United States of America on the World Trade Organization
9. Question on a possible visit abroad by Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi to various Asian countries
10. Questions concerning the importance of the visit to the Republic of India of Senior Foreign Policy Advisor to the Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto
11. Issues related to Japan's trade relationship with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

1. Announcement on the visit to Japan of Prime Minister Willem Kok and Minister for Foreign Affairs Jozias Johannes Van Aartsen of the Kingdom of the Netherlands

   Deputy Press Secretary Chikahito Harada: Good afternoon. I have four announcements to start with.

   Firstly, the visit to Japan by Prime Minister Willem Kok and Minister for Foreign Affairs Jozias Johannes Van Aartsen of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Prime Minister Kok will pay a visit to Japan from 20-22 February and Foreign Minister Van Aartsen, from 21-23 February.

   During his stay in Japan, Prime Minister Kok will be received in audience by His Majesty the Emperor of Japan. The Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister will also hold meetings with Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi and other officials to exchange views on bilateral relations, the international situation, and other issues.

   As their visits take place on the occasion of the 400th anniversary of relations between Japan and the Netherlands, they will have talks with people involved with the 400th anniversary commemorative events in addition to exchanges of views with Japanese government officials, such as the Prime Minister's meeting and the foreign ministers' meeting.

   Related Information (Japan-Netherlands Relations)
   
2. Announcement on the visit to the United States of America of Minister for Foreign Affairs Yohei Kono

   Mr. Harada: My second announcement is on the visit to the United States of America of Minister for Foreign Affairs Yohei Kono. Foreign Minister Kono will visit the United States from 18-21 February and will meet with President William Jefferson Clinton, Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and United States Trade Representative Charlene Barshevsky of the United States of America, and others. In the meetings he will exchange views on broad cooperation between the two countries, the Kyushu-Okinawa Summit, World Trade Organization (WTO) issues and the international situation.

   Related Information (Foreign Minister Yohei Kono's Visit to the United Sta)
   
3. Announcement on the visit to the Republic of India of Senior Foreign Policy Advisor to the Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto

   Mr. Harada: My third announcement is on the visit to the Republic of India of Senior Foreign Policy Advisor to the Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto. Mr. Hashimoto will pay a visit to India from 20-23 February and will meet with the leaders of the Government of India and make a keynote speech at the commemorative meeting of the 25th anniversary of the Tata Energy Research Institute (TERI). Senior Foreign Policy Advisor Hashimoto will exchange views on bilateral issues, nuclear non proliferation issues and the recent situation in Southwest Asia and other regions.

   Related Information (Japan-China Relations)
   
4. Issues relating to the dispatch of an electoral monitoring mission for the parliamentary election in the Republic of Tajikistan

   Mr. Harada: My final announcement is on the dispatch of an electoral monitoring mission for the parliamentary election in the Republic of Tajikistan. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has decided to dispatch an electoral monitoring mission for the Lower House election of the Parliament of the Republic of Tajikistan to be held on 27 February, in response to a request made by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan.

   The mission headed by former State Secretary for Foreign Affairs Keizo Takemi, Member of the House of Councillors, comprises five members. They will be dispatched to Tajikistan from 25 February to 1 March, during which they will monitor voting and ballot counting, and will also meet with leading figures of the Government of Tajikistan.

   The Government of Japan has already decided to extend a grant aid of approximately US$150,000 to the United Nations (UN), which will be dispatching an electoral monitoring mission with a view to assisting the fair and smooth implementation of the election.

   This coming parliamentary election is to be considered the final stage of the peace process based on the peace agreement concluded between the government and the former oppositions in June 1997. Since this election will for the first time include oppositions who were not permitted to participate in the previous parliamentary elections (held in March 1995), the fair and smooth implementation of the coming election is extremely important to establish peace in Tajikistan.

   Related Information (Japan-Tajikistan Relations)
   
5. Possible issues to be raised on the occasion of the visit to Japan of the Minister for Foreign Affairs Jozias Johannes Van Aartsen of the Kingdom of the Netherlands

   Q: On the visit of the Foreign Minister of the Netherlands, I seem to remember that there was an article in a Dutch newspaper a while ago that commented on P.O.W. issues. I would like to know if the P.O.W. issue will be raised in some way.

   Mr. Harada: We are consulting with the Dutch government on the details of the agendas, so we have not come to a conclusion on a concrete agreement yet.

   Related Information (Japan-Netherlands Relations)
   
6. Questions relating to the relocation of Futenma

   Q: Do you expect that Foreign Minister Kono will raise the issue of the relocation of Futenma Air Station or the tenure limit in the US?

   Mr. Harada: As I told you, Foreign Minister Kono will exchange views on a wide range of issues on bilateral relations, so he might take up the issue of the relocation of Futenma Air Station with his counterpart.

   Q: In what way would he take it up? Will he convey the Okinawan position?

   Mr. Harada: He could take up this issue based upon the Cabinet decision which we made on the replacement of facilities of Futenma Air Station on 28 December last year. This Cabinet decision says that the government will take up this issue in the course of discussions with the Government of the United States.

   Related Information (Japan-U.S. Security Arrangements)
   
7. Questions relating to the possible participation of the People's Republic of China in the G8 Summit

   Q: Will the foreign minister also press further the issue of China's request for participation in the G8 Summit? In that connection, I know that yourself and other government officials have said that Japan needs to sound out China's view as well as those of other G8 members. The LDP has, I believe, invited an aid to the Chinese Prime Minister to come to Japan in early April. Will this provide an opportunity to sound out China's common views on participating in the G8?

   Mr. Harada: You have asked a few questions, firstly, whether Foreign Minister Kono will take up this issue of Chinese participation in the Summit. Actually, this morning he held a press conference and he was asked the same question. In response to that, Foreign Minister Kono said that on his part he does not have the intention to take up this issue.

   Secondly, I will explain our position on Chinese participation in the Summit. Japan on its part has been paying heed to the importance of the G8, maintaining close relations with the People's Republic of China, and in the past has made various efforts, including dispatching appropriate high level government officials to China, either just before or after the Summit, in order to exchange views with the Government of China. Regarding the possibility of China participating in the Kyushu-Okinawa Summit, on the other hand, the question of enlarging the Summit's participants, including observers, is, generally speaking, a matter which requires careful consideration with a view to ensuring the efficacy of the discussions and policy coordination among the members. Furthermore, there is also a question whether or not China itself wants to participate in the Summit. Japan will closely consult with the other G8 members on this matter bearing in mind the intent of China in this regard. I may add that it is our understanding that China has so far expressed cautious views on this matter.

   Q: You said that Japan will consult closely with other G8 members. I would have thought this was a good opportunity to consult closely with the United States.

   Mr. Harada: Actually, the Summit has its own Sherpa process. On various occasions, the question of the relations between China and the G8 has been discussed among the G8 members.

   Q: So, are you saying that this will continue to be discussed at the Sherpa level?

   Mr. Harada: It might be taken up at the political level when it is necessary, but consultation is already going on.

   Q: Do you mean that Japan will or that Japan is already consulting on this matter?

   Mr. Harada: I said that on various occasions the questions of the relations between China and the G8 have been discussed among the G8 members.

   Q: Does that include the issue of China's participation?

   Mr. Harada: I should say so, yes.

   Q: Is it fair to say that Japan and the other G8 members are already discussing the issue of China relations, including the issue of China's participation in the Okinawa Summit? After that is settled, maybe Japan will ask China to sound out its participation in the Summit?

   Mr. Harada: As the chair of the G8, without the consensus or full consultation with other G8 members, Japan cannot officially propose to China on this issue.

   Q: So right now Japan is trying to get a consensus among the G8 nations?

   Mr. Harada: That is correct.

   Q: The United States expressed a positive position on this issue. Is there anyone who would be opposed to this?

   Mr. Harada: My reading of the United States explanation on this issue is different from yours. I think that what they said publicly is that once the consultation is completed and the consensus has been made, and if it should require, Japan, as the Chair of G8, should consult with China. What they said does not prejudge the position of the United States at all.

   Q: What is the significance of China participating in G8? Why should China and not India participate in G8?

   Mr. Harada: Maybe you could ask that question if we decide on Chinese participation in the G8: that is not the case and we do not know the result of consultation with other G8 members on this issue. At least, what we recognize is that we are -- and I think I can say the G8 -- truly aware of the importance of China in today's international community and we share the recognition that there is a need to promote dialogue with China. But by these personal remarks, you should neither prejudge Chinese participation in G8 nor the relationship between China and G8. Just to add, Japan also attaches importance to dialogue with India.

   Related Information (Japan-China Relations)
   
8. The main message to be conveyed by Minister for Foreign Affairs Yohei Kono to the United States of America on the World Trade Organization

   Q: On the WTO, what message will the foreign minister convey?

   Mr. Harada: I think the main message will be that Japan and the United States should consult and cooperate for the early launching of the new round of World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiations.

   Related Information (WTO)
   
9. Question on a possible visit abroad by Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi to various Asian countries

   Q: Is Prime Minister Obuchi going abroad to other areas in Asia for the purpose of representing these areas in the G8?

   Mr. Harada: Nothing has been decided yet and as you know the Diet is going on.

   Q: I heard some reports that he might be invited to Middle Eastern countries for this purpose.

   Mr. Harada: I think that there are many invitations extended to Prime Minister Obuchi, but we cannot make a decision on his visit abroad at this moment.

   Q: Do you have any information on which countries have extended these invitations?

   Mr. Harada: There are many standing invitations from various countries.

   Related Information (Japan-Asia Relations)
   
10. Questions concerning the importance of the visit to the Republic of India of Senior Foreign Policy Advisor to the Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto

    Q: Former Prime Minister Hashimoto is going to India next week. Can you tell us how important his visit is and how it is going to improve the Japan-India relationship which is now under strain?

    Mr. Harada: Of course, we attach importance to the visit to India of Senior Foreign Policy Advisor Ryutaro Hashimoto. We would like to further strengthen our bilateral relationship with India based upon the achievements of the visit of Minister of External Affairs Jaswant Singh of India to Japan last November and also the visit of Minister for Defence George Fernandes of India to Japan this January.

    Actually, we are now arranging Senior Foreign Policy Advisor Hashimoto's meetings with the leaders of the Government of India, but we have not completed all of these arrangements. We are trying to arrange a meeting with Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, External Affairs Minister Singh, Defence Minister Fernandes and so on.

    Related Information (Japan-India Relations)
    
11. Issues related to Japan's trade relationship with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

    Q: Speaking of visits, do you have any update on the Japanese position regarding the negotiations on the renewal of drilling rights of oil fields in Saudi Arabia?

    Mr. Harada: As you know, Minister of Oil and Mineral Resources Ali al-Naimi had a talk with Minister for International Trade and Industry Takashi Fukaya. As far as I know, they have not made any progress in the negotiations. We believe that the Japanese proposal is the best and we are asking for reconsideration of our proposal by the Saudi Arabian side.

    Q: If they do not, what would be your reaction?

    Mr. Harada: This is matter of negotiation so I cannot go into the details of this issue. From the position of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, I think that I once told you our stance that we believe that this issue should not impair our bilateral relations and that we will continue to make efforts to strengthen our friendly relations and cooperation with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia irrespective of the outcome of the negotiations.

    Q: About Mr. Kono's visit to the US, do you have any information on whether he is going to discuss the Middle East process?

    Mr. Harada: He is going to exchange views on the international situation and since the Middle East peace process is a very important issue and a common interest to both countries, they might discuss this issue.

    Related Information (Japan-Saudi Arabia Relations)