Press Conference 21 December 2001

1. Announcement on a trade agreement between the Government of Japan and the Government of the People's Republic of China
2. Announcement regarding recognition of the new government in Afghanistan
3. Announcement on food aid for Palestinian refugees
4. Questions about Afghanistan

1. Announcement on a trade agreement between the Government of Japan and the Government of the People's Republic of China

   Deputy Press Secretary Joji Hisaeda: Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen. I have three announcements to make today.

   As you may be aware, the Government of Japan and the Government of the People's Republic of China held ministerial-level talks in Beijing this morning and reached three common understandings:

   The Japanese Government will not take economic safeguard measures on three agricultural products: welsh onions, fresh shiitake mushrooms, and the rushes used for making tatami mats.

   The Chinese side decided to eliminate a measure to levy a special duty of 100% on three products made in Japan: automobiles, cellular and car phones, and air conditioners.

   Based on this present agreement, through both official and private routes, both sides will study and strengthen their cooperation in bilateral trade of agricultural products. Both sides will establish a trade scheme for those three agricultural items to promote orderly trade. The two governments will strengthen their cooperation, actively exchange information, strengthen guidance in the agricultural industry, maintain normal trade, impose strict control on illegal trade, and conduct consultations when necessary.

   At the same time, private organizations of both sides will establish a council for the trade of agricultural products, with the participation of the producers and others, with the aim to exchange information on market demand, quality of products, production amounts, prices, and so on; form clear views on production, demand, and trade; make efforts to raise quality; and encourage the sound development of planting, production, and trade of agricultural produce of the two countries.

   Until the council is established, both sides will do their utmost to secure orderly trade in the three agricultural items in question.

   Related Information (Japan-China Relations)
   
2. Announcement regarding recognition of the new government in Afghanistan

   Mr. Hisaeda: From 22 December, the Government of Japan will recognize the interim authority in Afghanistan as the government representing Afghanistan. This decision was approved in the Cabinet meeting yesterday. The Government of Japan will dispatch Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Shigeo Uetake to Afghanistan to attend the inauguration ceremony of the interim authority, being held tomorrow.

   Related Information (Japan-Afghanistan Relations)
   
3. Announcement on food aid for Palestinian refugees

   Mr. Hisaeda: The Government of Japan has decided to extend food aid of 600 million yen, a little less than US$5 million, through the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) to Palestinian refugees. Since September 2000, due to continued conflict between the State of Israel and Palestinian Authorities, the Palestinian economy has been hit hard; this has forced the Palestinian refugees into an extreme and difficult situation. Under these circumstances, the UNRWA requested food aid from the Government of Japan. Taking the serious food shortage situation of the refugees into account, the Government of Japan decided to extend the fund to purchase flour, rice, and lentils through UNRWA, from a humanitarian point of view. The Government of Japan has been providing food aid for the Palestinian refugees, through the UNRWA, since the 1970s. Those are all the announcements and I would be more than happy to answer any questions that you might have.

   Related Information (Japan-Palestinian Authorities Relations)
   
4. Questions about Afghanistan

   Q: My question concerns Afghanistan. The Japanese Government has now recognized the new government for Afghanistan starting from 22 December?

   Mr. Hisaeda: Yes, the decision was made in the Cabinet meeting yesterday, and it will be conveyed to the new government tomorrow.

   Q: And soon a Japanese ambassador's office will be set up in Afghanistan? Is there already an embassy?

   Mr. Hisaeda: The Government is studying the matter seriously but has not yet established a Japanese Embassy in Afghanistan.

   Q: At the same time, the Government of Japan is giving food aid for refugees. Maybe in the meantime we can consider downgrading the travel advisory to allow Japanese tourists to travel more easily to Afghanistan? In the case of New York, Mayor Giulliani asked tourists from around the world to spend money to re-establish the city. The same thing could be used for Afghanistan. Is there any thought about downgrading in the travel advisory?

   Mr. Hisaeda: The Japanese Government continues to observe the situation in Afghanistan, vis-à-vis safety for travelers going there. However, the Government has not arrived at any conclusion about when, or to what extent, the level of the present travel advisory will go down. Already, there are many people, from NGOs extending refugee relief and some people from the Government of Japan, going there for many purposes. As has been said on other occasions, the advice and warnings are not issued for the sake of commercial interests. The advisories are issued in order to provide the Japanese people with the information necessary to make their own decision whether or not to travel to, or stay in a certain country or area.

   Related Information (Japan-Afghanistan Relations)