Press Conference 24 May 2005
- Japanese grant assistance in FY2004
- Statement by the Press Secretary/Director-General for Press and Public Relations on the completion of term of the United Nations Mission of Support in East Timor (UNMISET)
- Statement by the Press Secretary on the adoption of a draft constitution in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Grant assistance to the People's Republic of Bangladesh for the Project for Human Resources Development Scholarship
- Questions concerning cancellation of the meeting between Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and Vice Premier Wu Yi of the People's Republic of China
- Question concerning Yasukuni Shrine issue
- Question concerning bilateral meetings between Japan and the People's Republic of China
- Question concerning five principles stated by President Hu Jintao of China
- Japanese grant assistance in FY2004
Press Secretary Hatsuhisa Takashima: Good afternoon and thank you very much for coming to the briefing. Before taking questions, I would like to make four announcements.
My first announcement is about Japanese grant assistance.
The Government of Japan has been providing three different types of grassroots assistance to developing countries with the aim of directly benefiting the people on a grassroots level.
During FY2004, which started in April last year and ended in March this year, the Government of Japan has provided 15.64 billion yen or US$148.6 million for 1,405 projects that were implemented in 112 countries and one area.
This assistance reflects an increase of approximately 2.0 billion yen or US$19.0 million compared with the previous fiscal year's amount. This includes projects to meet basic human needs such as water, sanitation, education and medical care, and also, direct assistance to the overseas activities of Japanese non-governmental organizations (NGO) to assist the people.
- Statement by the Press Secretary/Director-General for Press and Public Relations on the completion of term of the United Nations Mission of Support in East Timor (UNMISET)
Mr. Takashima: The second announcement is about the completion of the term of the United Nations Mission of Support in East Timor (UNMISET) or Timor-Leste.
On the completion of the term of UNMISET, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued the following statement by the Press Secretary/Director-General for Press and Public Relations:
The United Nations Mission of Support in East Timor (UNMISET, headed by Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations Dr. Sukehiro Hasegawa), a United Nations (UN) peacekeeping operation engaged in tasks for the "consolidation of peace" and "nation building" of East Timor, successfully completed its term on 20 May. Japan, which has been extending personnel and financial contributions including the dispatch of its Self-Defense Force Engineer Group, welcomes the successful completion of UNMISET's activities.
Following the completion of UNMISET's term, a UN Office in Timor-Leste (UNOTIL), a UN special political mission, will be established on 21 May. For the next year, the UNOTIL will continue cooperation for the "consolidation of peace" and "nation building," and Japan will also continue supporting its activities.
- Statement by the Press Secretary on the adoption of a draft constitution in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Mr. Takashima: The third announcement is about the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued the following statement of the Press Secretary on the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo which says as follows:
The Government of Japan welcomes the news that on 13 May, the Parliament of the Democratic Republic of the Congo adopted a draft constitution, marking an important step towards conducting elections.
Japan has been extending steady assistance to the Democratic Republic of the Congo from the viewpoint that progress of the country's peace process is vital to the peace and stability not only of the country but also of the Great Lakes Region as a whole.
Japan strongly hopes that following the adoption of the draft constitution, election-related bills will be promptly enacted and that preparations for a national constitutional referendum and Parliamentary and Presidential elections will bring about democratic elections as early as possible.
- Grant assistance to the People's Republic of Bangladesh for the Project for Human Resources Development Scholarship
Mr. Takashima: The last announcement I have is about assistance to the People's Republic of Bangladesh.
The Government of Japan decided to provide grant assistance of up to 360 million yen or US$3.4 million to the Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh for the Project for Human Resources Development Scholarship.
With this program, 57 young leaders of Bangladesh will have opportunities to have advanced studies and to obtain degrees at graduate schools in Japan.
- Questions concerning cancellation of the meeting between Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and Vice Premier Wu Yi of the People's Republic of China
Q: Yesterday, Vice Premier Wu Yi of the People's Republic of China cancelled her visit to Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. What do you think about this cancellation? How do you explain it?
Mr. Takashima: The Chinese Embassy here in Japan gave an explanation to us, saying that because a sudden official business emerged, Vice Premier Wu Yi had to leave Japan earlier than scheduled and that she had to cancel the meeting with Prime Minister Koizumi.
If that is the case, there is no other way but for us to wish for her safe journey home. At the same time, we are a little bit dismayed by the lack of normal diplomatic courtesy or protocol. We believe a sudden cancellation of this kind of meeting with leaders of other countries would be accompanied by some sort of regret or apology. Unfortunately, there was no such expression of regret or apology.
At the same time, we believe that this is a very small incident vis-à-vis the wide-range of deliberations that are held between our two countries. We hope that relations between Japan and China would continue to show progress and improvement.
Q: What sign do you see to the fact that Vice Premier Wu Yi met with Chairman of the Nippon Keidanren Hiroshi Okuda, in other words, an economic leader, but not with the leader of this country?
Mr. Takashima: We understand that there was a kind of scheduling problem and that she could not stay until the time at which her meeting with Prime Minister Koizumi was originally scheduled. She had to go straight to the airport in order to make her flight to China. Other than that, I have no comment.
Q: Are you expecting an apology from the Chinese Government?
Mr. Takashima: I am not expecting anything. The Government of Japan has not requested anything from the Chinese side. The statement I made was just a mere impression I have.
Q: Does this cancellation of the planned meeting between Prime Minister Koizumi and Vice Premier Wu Yi have anything to do with the Yasukuni Shrine? If so, what is the reaction of the Japanese Government?
Mr. Takashima: When we were notified about the abrupt cancellation of the meeting, the Chinese Embassy here in Tokyo said that this cancellation has nothing to do with the Yasukuni Shrine issue. Therefore, we believe that this cancellation was due to a sudden change of official business of Vice Premier Wu Yi, and we take that explanation as the explanation of the Chinese side.
On the other hand, on the issue of the visit to the Yasukuni Shrine by Prime Minister Koizumi, as the Prime Minister has repeatedly said, the purpose of the visit to the Yasukuni Shrine is to offer prayers to those who sacrificed their lives against their wills during the war and to offer prayers to the very noble sacrifice they made for the reconstruction of Japan, and also to make a personal pledge and vow not to bring Japan into war again. That has been repeatedly stated by Prime Minister Koizumi.
On the issue of the future visit to the Yasukuni Shrine, Prime Minister Koizumi has been saying that he will make his decision upon appropriate consideration of this issue. Therefore, we wait for the decision or consideration of Prime Minister Koizumi.
Q: Has there been any further explanation from the Chinese side on the sudden cancellation of the meeting between Vice Premier Wu Yi and Prime Minister Koizumi?
Mr. Takashima: We have not requested any further explanation, and no new explanation has been given to us from the Chinese side.
Q: Your ministry was in charge of the preparations for this visit to Prime Minister Koizumi, right?
Mr. Takashima: Yes.
Q: You said you were surprised, but your statement is rather mild.
Mr. Takashima: Actually, we made the plan for the meeting that was scheduled for yesterday afternoon. Of course, we were very much surprised to hear the word from the Chinese Embassy here in Tokyo yesterday morning.
Q: Do you have any plans to make further contacts? How will you diplomatically resolve this issue?
Mr. Takashima: I do not see any need for us to take any action on this.
Q: Has Chinese Ambassador to Japan Wang Yi made any comments regarding Vice Premier Wu Yi?
Mr. Takashima: I do not know, I am sorry.
Q: Are you saying that it is basically something related to Japan issues, to China issues or to international issues?
Mr. Takashima: We were just told that Vice Premier Wu Yi had a sudden change of official plans or official business. No further explanation has been given.
- Question concerning Yasukuni Shrine issue
Q: Some people in Parliament mentioned that visiting the Yasukuni Shrine would be like Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder of the Federal Republic of Germany visiting Adolf Hitler's grave. From a diplomatic perspective, what do you think about this?
Mr. Takashima: We do not compare the Japanese situation to the German situation because the German situation is completely different in nature. That is our basic understanding. Prime Minister Koizumi has repeatedly said that the purpose of his visit to the Yasukuni Shrine is not to offer prayers to the so-called war criminals but to offer prayers to those who lost their lives during the war and to make pledge for peace, and therefore, we take his word as an expression of his genuine feeling on this matter.
- Question concerning bilateral meetings between Japan and the People's Republic of China
Q: I believe that Japan and China are trying to arrange bilateral talks between senior officials on China's gas project in the East China Sea later this month. Has the date of the talks been set?
Mr. Takashima: Currently, two meetings are scheduled. One is an official-level consultative meeting on the issue of the East China Sea, including gas exploration in the East China Sea, which is scheduled for the end of this month. The other one is vice ministers' comprehensive policy dialogue in Tokyo, which was arranged during the course of the last meeting between the two vice foreign ministers which was recently held in Beijing. It is scheduled for next month. So far, we do not have information about any change of plans.
- Question concerning five principles stated by President Hu Jintao of China
Q: Yesterday morning, Vice Premier Wu Yi gave a talk at the Nikkei hall. She mentioned that there are five points that were discussed between Prime Minister Koizumi and President Hu Jintao of China. Can you repeat the five points?
Mr. Takashima: The five principles, those were the points stated by President Hu Jintao when he met with Prime Minister Koizumi in Jakarta. The five principles are as follows:
First, the Japanese Government should strictly abide by the Joint Communique of the Government of Japan and the Government of the People's Republic of China, the Treaty of Peace and Friendship between Japan and the People's Republic of China, and the Japan-China Joint Declaration, take specific actions to forge a friendly and cooperative relationship with China facing the 21st century.
Secondly, the Japanese Government should regard history as a mirror to reflecting on its wartime past.
Thirdly, the Taiwan question should be correctly handled.
Fourthly, differences between the two nations need to be resolved through dialogues and peaceful negotiations.
Fifthly, the two countries should further strengthen communication and cooperation in various areas, encourage friendly contacts and activities between the two peoples, so as to further increase understanding and broaden mutual benefits, pushing the Sino-Japanese relations forward in a healthy and stable pace.
We recognize and appreciate President Hu Jintao's statement, and we fully agree that these principles can set the basis for further improvement and strengthening of relations between our two countries.
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