Press Conference, 20 July 2007

Japan-China 21st Century Friendship Program farewell reception hosted by the Japan Foundation
Recent updates to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website

I. Japan-China 21st Century Friendship Program farewell reception hosted by the Japan Foundation

Deputy Press Secretary Tomohiko Taniguchi: Good afternoon, thanks very much for coming.

Let me briefly make some points at the outset.

Firstly, next Thursday, 26 July, the Japan Foundation will host a farewell reception for 32 Chinese high school students who are returning to their county the very next day, 27 July. These high school students came to Japan last September on the invitation of the Japan-China 21st Century Friendship Program ("Heart to Heart"). They've been spending the last 11 months--some of them in school dormitories and others at host-families' homes, from up north in Hokkaido to down south in Okinawa--going to local high schools.

I am curious myself to see how they have changed over the last year, which I am sure must have been a formative one for all of them. The reception is open to the press, but should you be interested in attending, you need to sign up with the Japan Foundation in advance.

Related Information (Press Release)

II. Recent updates to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website

Now, just to let you know, the following entries have been added to our website so you can have a look at them; and they are:

Admiral T. J. Keating, Commander of the US Pacific Command, paid a courtesy call on Foreign Minister Aso;

Invitation of CTBT-related officials from the Republic of Indonesia;

Consultation between the Foreign Ministries of Japan and Uzbekistan;

The 4th Meeting of the Policy Implementation Committee of the Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate.

You will also see on our website entries about US assistance to the earthquake victims.

Press Release (U.S. Assistance to the victims of Niigata-ken Chuetsu-oki Earthquake (No. 1))

Press Release (U.S. Assistance to the victims of Niigata-ken Chuetsu-oki Earthquake (No. 2))

That is basically it, but I have one housekeeping matter, and that is that today's conference will be the last one before we close down the press conferences for the summer recess. Unless otherwise stated, the next one will be on Tuesday, 4 September. Also, the first Internet chat conference after the recess is scheduled for Thursday, 13 September.

That is all for today.

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