Press Conference, 7 October 2008

Dispatch of Self-Defense Forces personnel to Sudan
Visit of Indian Prime Minister to Japan
Japan-India Foreign Office consultation
Tenth round of negotiations on the Japan-India EPA
Visit of Prince Salman of Bahrain to Japan
Seventh Japan-Mongolia Policy Dialogue in Ulaanbaatar/First Japan-Mongolia Regional Affairs Dialogue
Dispatch of Japanese election monitors to Maldives
Questions concerning Prime Minister Aso's travel schedule to China
Questions concerning the visit of His Royal Highness, the Prince of Wales to Japan
Questions concerning Japan-Russia strategic talks in Moscow
Questions concerning U.S.-Japan diplomatic coordination on North Korean issues

I. Dispatch of Self-Defense Forces personnel to Sudan

Deputy Press Secretary Yasuhisa Kawamura: Good afternoon, everybody. Welcome to the conference.

I have a couple of announcements at the outset.

First, Japan has decided to send two members of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces to UNMIS, Headquarters of the United Nations Mission in Sudan, in accordance with the International Peace Cooperation Law.

This will be the first case of a personnel dispatch to the Mission under this law. This dispatch should contribute not only to the Sudan peace process in the country, but also to the peace and stability of Africa as a whole.

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II. Visit of Indian Prime Minister to Japan

Next, three items on India. Japan will soon welcome Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Prime Minister Singh is expected to visit Japan from Tuesday, the 21st, to Thursday, the 23rd. His visit is significant in that it will compile efforts of both sides to build the "Japan-India Strategic and Global Partnership," which covers a broad range of cooperation activities.

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III. Japan-India Foreign Office consultation

To prepare for his visit, Deputy Minister Kenichiro Sasae of the Foreign Ministry, met with Indian Foreign Secretary Menon, in Tokyo, yesterday, Monday, the 6th. They discussed bilateral relations as well as regional and global issues.

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IV. Tenth round of negotiations on the Japan-India EPA

On the economic front, Japan and India are now conducting the 10th round of negotiations on the Japan-India EPA, or Economic Partnership Agreement, in Tokyo. This round of negotiations started yesterday, Monday, the 6th and will continue until Thursday, the 9th.

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V. Visit of Prince Salman of Bahrain to Japan

That is all for India, and we are now moving to Bahrain. Tomorrow, Wednesday, the 8th, Prince Shaikh Salman Bin Hamad Al Khalifa will visit Japan. His Majesty, the Emperor and His Imperial Highness, the Crown Prince are scheduled to respectively receive the audience of His Highness, Prince Salman who will stay in Japan until Monday, the 13th.

VI. Seventh Japan-Mongolia Policy Dialogue in Ulaanbaatar/First Japan-Mongolia Regional Affairs Dialogue

And, going back to the Asian front, Japan and Mongolia will meet for the 7th Policy Dialogue between the two ministers and, for the first time, for the First Japan-Mongolia Regional Affairs Dialogue in Ulaanbaatar, tomorrow, Wednesday, the 8th.

VII. Dispatch of Japanese election monitors to Maldives

And, lastly, Japan has decided to dispatch an election observer mission to Maldives for its presidential election to be held also, tomorrow, Wednesday, the 8th. Japan hopes this election will be conducted in a free and fair manner.

That's all I have for you today. I now invite your questions, please.

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VIII. Questions concerning Prime Minister Aso's travel schedule to China

Q: Kyodo has reported that the Prime Minister will visit China at the end of October. Can you confirm the news?

Mr. Kawamura: I read the news report of the possibility of the Prime Minister's visit to China towards the end of this month. In the context of the ASEM, or whatever, the Prime Minister's schedule is now being considered, discussed among the relevant parties within the Japanese Government, but we have not reached any conclusion yet.

IX. Questions concerning the visit of His Royal Highness, the Prince of Wales to Japan

Q: The Foreign Ministry announced this morning that Prince Charles from Britain is going to visit Japan later this month. Can you give us more details on his itinerary, and also, what is the purpose of this visit? I think it is the first time since 1990 that he has come.

Mr. Kawamura: Their Royal Highnesses, The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, will pay an official visit to Japan from the 27th to the 31st of October. During their stay in Japan, their Majesties, the Emperor and Empress, will host a dinner at the Imperial Residence in honor of their Royal Highnesses. Mr. Taro Aso, Prime Minister of Japan, will hold a meeting with his Royal Highness, the Prince of Wales. In reply to your question on the second part, the Government of Japan sincerely welcomes the visit of their Royal Highnesses, which will further strengthen friendly relations between Japan and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. We will hope that this visit will further strengthen the existing friendly relationship between the two nations.

Q: What is he going to do in Nara and Nagano? Is he going to visit the Japanese Crown Prince here?

Mr. Kawamura: I do not have a more detailed schedule than what I had just introduced to you. If I have further developments, I will let you know, later.

Any other questions?

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X. Questions concerning Japan-Russia strategic talks in Moscow

Q: I understand that Vice-Foreign Minister Yabunaka is down in Moscow for strategic talks with Deputy Prime Minister Denisov. Can you confirm if the talks are ongoing and also, what are the main topics on the agenda?

Mr. Kawamura: Any supplementary information? Unfortunately I do not have the latest information now. Can I get back to you later on this?

XI. Questions concerning U.S.-Japan diplomatic coordination on North Korean issues

Q: Sure. Just one more, regarding Mr. Saiki's visit to Seoul last week to meet Mr. Hill, I heard that Japan is going to get more details from the Washington side this week. Around when are we expecting more details to be delivered to the Japanese side?

Mr. Kawamura: We do not have any specific date when the U.S. side will brief more in detail about what was discussed among the two parties, but I hope that after the completion of the process within the U.S. government, the Japanese side will expect that we will receive some explanation from the U.S. side. At this particular moment, we have not received it yet.

Q: Were you expecting Mr. Hill to come over to Tokyo, or are his subordinates or someone considering coming?

Mr. Kawamura: I do not make specific comment on the modality of communications between the two governments. We will explore the most appropriate measures of communications in the coming days, I hope.

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