Top > Announcement > Press Conference by the Press Secretary of MOFA > 2 September 2010

Press Conference by the Deputy Press Secretary, 2 September 2010

  1. Third Japan-China High-Level Economic Dialogue
  2. Courtesy Call on Mr. Katsuya Okada, Minister for Foreign Affairs, by Mr. Wu Dawei, Special Representative of the Chinese Government on the Korean Peninsula Affairs
  3. ASEAN Plus Three International Conference on Disaster Management
  4. Dispatch of Japan Disaster Relief (JDR) Team in Response to the Flood Disaster in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
  5. Futenma Replacement Facility Bilateral Experts Study Group Report
  6. The Second Japan-CARICOM Ministerial-Level Conference
  7. Visit to Japan of the President and the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Spain
  8. Statement by the Press Secretary on shooting by Hamas' military wing in the West Bank
  9. Selection of Judge Hisashi Owada as a Candidate for the Election of Judges of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in 2011
  10. VIP Visits

  1. Third Japan-China High-Level Economic Dialogue

    2. Deputy Press Secretary Hidenobu Sobashima: Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen.

    Today I have several topics to share with you. The first is the Third Japan-China High-Level Economic Dialogue which took place last weekend in Beijing, specifically speaking on 28 August. The Japanese side was chaired by Mr. Katsuya Okada, Minister for Foreign Affairs, and six ministers and three state secretaries participated in this Dialogue. The Chinese side was chaired by the Vice Premier Mr. Wang Qishan of the State Council, and eight ministerial-level participants and four vice-minister-level participants were present at the Dialogue from the Chinese side. The two sides discussed various issues, including the global economy and Japan-China economic relations, and global and regional economic issues.

    The two countries share about 17% of world GDP, therefore it is very useful for the two countries to exchange views on the economic issues. The Japanese side confirmed that it will implement a new development strategy and strategy of fiscal management, and the Chinese side confirmed that it will try to expand the domestic demand and promote economic structural reforms. They discussed various individual issues, but I skip these.

  2. Courtesy Call on Mr. Katsuya Okada, Minister for Foreign Affairs, by Mr. Wu Dawei, Special Representative of the Chinese Government on the Korean Peninsula Affairs

    3. Mr. Sobashima: The second is the meeting between Foreign Minister Okada and Mr. Wu Dawei, Special Representative of the Chinese Government on the Korean Peninsula Affairs, on 31 August, last Tuesday.

    Mr. Wu stated that the heightening of tensions on the Korean Peninsula is not desirable for the peace and stability of neighboring countries and Northeast Asia as a whole, that North Korea hopes to return to the process of political dialogue, and that it is important to produce an environment where the Six-Party Talks can be resumed at an early date through diplomatic efforts by the countries concerned.

    In response, Minister Okada commended Mr. Wu's efforts as the chair of the Six-Party Talks and stated that even though North Korea has suggested a positive stance toward returning to the dialogue, it should not be forgotten that it is North Korea itself that had created the current situation. Minister Okada stated that it might be too early to resume the Six-Party Talks given the reactions of the Republic of Korea (ROK) to the sinking incident of the ROK navy patrol vessel. Minister Okada also said that the resumption of the Six-Party Talks itself is not the objective and that it is important to have the prospect toward North Korea's abandonment of its nuclear and missiles programs.

    The two sides, the Japanese and Chinese sides, confirmed that Japan and the People's Republic of China will continue close communication toward resolving various issues, including North Korea's denuclearization.

  3. ASEAN Plus Three International Conference on Disaster Management

    4. Mr. Sobashima: The third topic is the ASEAN Plus Three International Conference on Disaster Management which was held from Monday 30 August until Wednesday 1 September. We have distributed the Chair's Summary, and the Chair's Summary includes... please have a look at paragraph 10. The meeting recommended various things, including, in sub-paragraph b of this summary, "to encourage each ASEAN Plus Three country to further strengthen regional cooperation on disaster management by sharing information, expertise and technologies as well as allocating necessary resources with appropriate priorities".

  4. Dispatch of Japan Disaster Relief (JDR) Team in Response to the Flood Disaster in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan

    5. Mr. Sobashima: The fourth subject is the dispatch of a Japan Disaster Relief (JDR) Team, specifically a medical team, in response to the flood disaster in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Japan has already provided assistance totaling approximately 14.6 million USD in the field of food, water, and sanitation. Also, a Self-Defense Force (SDF) unit with helicopters as a JDR Team was already deployed around Multan, Punjab Province. Then, last Tuesday, on 31 August, the Government of Japan decided to dispatch a Japan Disaster Relief (JDR) medical team, in response to the request made by the Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. So this is the news.

  5. Futenma Replacement Facility Bilateral Experts Study Group Report

    6. Mr. Sobashima: Next, I would like to refer to the Futenma Replacement Facility Bilateral Experts Study Group Report. The experts studied the so-called "V"-plan, the two-runway V-shaped configuration described in the 1 May 2006 Roadmap for Realignment, and also the other plan, the "I"-plan, a single runway I-shaped configuration, also developed by the Government of Japan (GOJ). I think the findings are self-explanatory, so I will refrain from going into the detail, but if you have a look at the first paragraph toward the end, it says that the findings of the Experts Study Group (ExSG) are subject to verification and validation by the time of the next Security Consultative Committee (SCC), which will announce a decision. This is one point.

    Secondly, the ExSG also noted that as long as the environmental impact assessment procedures and construction could be completed without significant delay and U.S. operational requirements continue to be met, the possibility of adjustments to the plans in the process of verification and validation could not be excluded. I would like to just refer to these points. Of course the Government of Japan will endeavor to seek understanding of Okinawa on this issue of relocation, while making efforts for reducing the impact on Okinawa.

  6. The Second Japan-CARICOM Ministerial-Level Conference

    7. Mr. Sobashima: The next topic is the Second Japan-CARICOM Ministerial-Level Conference. The Second Japan-CARICOM Ministerial-Level Conference is being held today. Yesterday we had bilateral meetings with the CARICOM members, by Minister Okada and Parliamentary Vice-Minister Kira, and today, we have the Second Japan-CARICOM Ministerial-Level Conference in the morning, and in the afternoon we have the Japan-CARICOM Public Symposium on Climate Change and Biodiversity at UNU. This is the second meeting after it was held 10 years ago.

    As I said, Minister Okada and Vice-Minister Kira had a series of bilateral meetings with the participant Ministers and representatives. Bilaterally we discussed economic relations, development cooperation, and regional and international issues. So we are now waiting for the results of the Conference.

  7. Visit to Japan of the President and the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Spain

    8. Mr. Sobashima: Next is the visit to Japan of the Spanish President and the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation. His Excellency Mr. José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, President of the Government of Spain, is now visiting Japan from 31 August until today, 2 September, and he had Summit Meetings with Prime Minister Kan yesterday. And Mr. Miguel Ángel Moratinos Cuyaubé, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Spain, is also in town from 31 August until 2 September. The Spanish Foreign Minister had a meeting with Minister Okada. Of course the two sides discussed various issues including economic relations and the two sides both at the Prime Minister level and the Foreign Minister level discussed the issue of Japan-EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA). The Japanese side hopes that we will be able to move to the stage of negotiation of an EPA, and the Spanish side supported in general terms the Japanese position.

  8. Statement by the Press Secretary on shooting by Hamas' military wing in the West Bank

    9. Mr. Sobashima: Next is the statement by the Press Secretary on shooting by Hamas' military wing in the West Bank. Japan strongly condemns the shooting by Hamas' military wing which occurred on 31 August, and sends condolences to the bereaved families.

  9. Selection of Judge Hisashi Owada as a Candidate for the Election of Judges of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in 2011

    10. Mr. Sobashima: Finally as a topic, the Selection of Judge Hisashi Owada as a candidate for the election of judges of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in 2011. Yesterday, 1 September, the members of the Japanese national group of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) re-nominated Mr. Hisashi Owada, the current President and Judge of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), as a candidate for the election of judges of the ICJ to be held in the General Assembly and the Security Council of the United Nations in Autumn next year. Japan will actively seek the UN member countries to support Mr. Owada's candidacy.

  10. VIP Visits

    11. Mr. Sobashima: Finally, some information on visits. The President of Ecuador, His Excellency Dr. Rafael Vicente Correa Delgado, will visit Japan from 5 September until 8 September as the guest of official working visit.

    From Malaysia, Datuk Peter Chin Fah Kui, Minister of Energy, Green Technology and Water will be visiting Japan from today 2 September until 7 September.

    His Excellency Mr. Gordan Jandrokovic, Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of the Republic of Croatia, will be visiting Japan from 8 September to 10 September.

    From Japan, State Secretary for Foreign Affairs Fujimura will be visiting Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia from 7 September until 12 September. In Thailand, Mr. Fujimura will be co-hosting with Thailand the Japan-Mekong International Conference on East-West and Southern Economic Corridors.

    This is the information I would like to provide as far as visits are concerned.

    Thank you very much.

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