Press Conference, 16 September 2008

Dispatch of the Joint Mission to promote Trade and Investment in Africa
Exchange of notes between the Danish Ambassador and Minister for Foreign Affairs Koumura regarding the Indian Ocean replenishment mission
Visit by the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka to Japan
Ninth round of the Japan-Vietnam Economic Partnership Agreement negotiations
Aid to Micronesia for improvement of the international airport
Questions concerning Japan's participation in U.N. General Assembly meeting
Questions concerning the status of the investigation into the unidentified submarine which entered Japanese waters
Questions concerning the negotiations on development of the East China Sea gas field
Questions concerning security seminars for Japanese workers in Afghanistan

I. Dispatch of the Joint Mission to promote Trade and Investment in Africa

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

First, I have five announcements in the beginning.

First, as I briefly touched upon at a previous conference, the third and last group of the public-private Joint Mission to Promote Trade and Investment in Africa has been visiting the central and western regions of Africa since this past weekend; Yasutoshi Nishimura, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, heads this mission and they will visit Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire, and Cameroon. The first mission returned to Japan already, on last Tuesday, the 9th, and a summary of their report will soon be uploaded on the Ministry's website.

Related Information (Press Release)

II. Exchange of notes between the Danish Ambassador and Minister for Foreign Affairs Koumura regarding the Indian Ocean replenishment mission

Second, last Friday, the 12th, Foreign Minister Masahiko Koumura and Danish Ambassador Franz-Michael Skjold Mellbin signed and exchanged the notes concerning the replenishment of vessels engaged in duties related to counter-terrorism maritime interdiction activities based on the Replenishment Support Special Measures Law. Japan had already signed and exchanged similar notes with 7 other countries, namely, Canada, France, Germany, New Zealand, Pakistan, the United Kingdom, and the United States. As Foreign Minister Koumura said, Japan will continue to engage in the international efforts to fight against terrorism.

Related Information (Press Release)

III. Visit by the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka to Japan

The third announcement is on in-coming visit by a foreign dignitary. Yesterday, Monday, the 15th, Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake arrived Tokyo. This is his first visit to Japan. Prime Minister Wickremanayake is now attending the opening ceremony of special exhibit entitled "Cultural Heritage of Sri Lanka - The Land of Serendipity" at Tokyo National Museum. Tomorrow, Wednesday, the 17th, Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda will meet with Prime Minister Wickremanayake.

Related Information (Press Release)

IV. Ninth round of the Japan-Vietnam Economic Partnership Agreement negotiations

And, fourth, Japan and Vietnam will start the 9th round of negotiations on the Japan-Vietnam EPA, or Economic Partnership Agreement, in Hanoi, Vietnam tomorrow, Wednesday, the 17th for three days until Friday, the 19th. Jun Yokota, Representative of the Government of Japan or Chief Negotiator heads the Japanese side, and Mr. Phan The Rue, Former Vice Minister of Trade, the Vietnamese side. The two sides will discuss trade in goods and services.

Related Information (FTA and EPA)

V. Aid to Micronesia for improvement of the international airport

Fifth, and last, Japan has decided to extend a total of 3 billion U.S. dollars to Micronesia for a project for improvement of Hongpay International Airport.

This was announced by former Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori who is now visiting the country with the attendance of Micronesian President Emmanuel Mori. This is a coincidence that they both share the same last name.

That is all I have for today. Now, I would like to invite your questions.

VI. Questions concerning Japan's participation in U.N. General Assembly meeting

Q: Speaking of Africa and former Prime Minister Mori, the former prime minister will be running the U.N. high-level meeting. Does that mean that it is unlikely that the new prime minister is going to go for the U.N. General Assembly or is it still on the schedule?

Mr. Kawamura: We are still considering what should be the schedule for the new prime minister and its relation to the United Nations General Assembly. So we have not reached any final conclusion yet.

VII. Questions concerning the status of the investigation into the unidentified submarine which entered Japanese waters

Q: Regarding the unidentified submarine that entered Japanese waters on Sunday, will you give us an update on whether the Foreign Ministry has approached any other neighboring countries on the whereabouts of the submarine and also how the Ministry has been cooperating with the Defense Ministry?

Mr. Kawamura: First, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been exchanging information with the Defense Ministry since this weekend.

So far, we haven't been able to identify the nationality of the submarine. At this particular moment the Ministry of Foreign Affairs does not intend to take any concrete actions and we would like to continue to closely exchange information with the Defense Ministry.

VIII. Questions concerning the negotiations on development of the East China Sea gas field

Q: This morning, Foreign Minister Koumura made a speech at the Japan-China Forum and he reiterated that Japan hoped to move forward with negotiations with Beijing on their joint effort to develop the disputed gas fields in the East China Sea. How is the negotiation process? Are you expecting any progress soon?

Mr. Kawamura: I do not have any additional information to what Foreign Minister Koumura said this morning. The bottom line is that both sides will make maximum efforts to reach a good conclusion on the continued efforts of the negotiations on the development of the field. This point has been repeatedly confirmed at the previous summit meetings of the 2 countries' leaders including the one we had on the occasion of the G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit Meeting. So we will continue with maximum efforts to reach a mutually agreeable conclusion.

Q: As you mentioned, there has been much between Japan and China through meetings between Prime Minister Fukuda and Chinese leaders. Now that the Prime Minister has resigned is that going to affect, at all, the negotiation process?

Mr. Kawamura: I do not think so. The essence, the bottom line, as I said before, is the efforts on both sides to reach a "mutually beneficial relationship based on common strategic interests" which was agreed and signed by the two leaders in the past. So both governments, irrespective of the level should and will continue to make the best efforts to maintain and realize the elements contained in this framework agreement. So there is no question about it.

Related Information (Press Release)

IX. Questions concerning security seminars for Japanese workers in Afghanistan

Q: My last question is about the announcement of the Foreign Ministry is hosting some safety or security seminars for Japanese working in Afghanistan. It says that you sent a message of how it is in September and October and you give some urgent telephone numbers, but how many times this will take place and how Japanese in Afghanistan are going to be contacted by the Ministry of details of where and when to go to these seminars or do they have to contact the Ministry?

Mr. Kawamura: Can I get back to you later for more updates and information?

Q: Sure

Mr. Kawamura: Thank you.

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