Top > Announcement > Press Conference by the Press Secretary of MOFA > 27 January 2011

Press Conference by the Deputy Press Secretary, 27 January 2011

  1. Highlights of the Foreign Policy Speech by Minister for Foreign Affairs Seiji Maehara to the 177th Session of the Diet
  2. Japan-Russia relations
  3. Statement by Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan on the Approval of the New START Treaty by the Federation Council of the Russian Federation
  4. Japan-Bulgaria Summit Meeting and Foreign Ministers' Meeting
  5. Second session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to prepare a global legally binding instrument on Mercury (INC2)
  6. VIP Visits
  7. Questions concerning Japan-Russia relations
  8. Question concerning the Foreign Policy Speech by Foreign Minister Maehara
  9. Questions concerning Japan-Germany relations
  10. Question concerning the possible visit of Prime Minister Kan to Davos to participate in the World Economic Forum

  1. Highlights of the Foreign Policy Speech by Minister for Foreign Affairs Seiji Maehara to the 177th Session of the Diet

    2. Deputy Press Secretary Hidenobu Sobashima: Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen. We have distributed some papers.

    First I would like to explain the highlights of the Foreign Policy Speech by Minister for Foreign Affairs Seiji Maehara at the 177th Session of the Diet.

    At the beginning, in the section entitled Basic Policy, he said, "Since I assumed the post of Minister for Foreign Affairs, I have been emphasizing the importance of developing economic diplomacy in a mid-to-long term perspective, so that Japan could play a more constructive role in Asia and in the world, which are dynamically changing."

    As you know, in the section entitled "Economic Diplomacy", he explained the four pillars of his economic diplomacy, or diplomacy for mutual benefits.

    The first, economic partnerships based on the Basic Policy on Comprehensive Economic Partnerships approved by the Cabinet last November. He mentioned the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with India and Peru, and he also expressed hope vis-à-vis the European Union (EU), Mongolia, and the Republic of Korea (ROK). As for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), he said "we have started information gathering and consultations with relevant countries", and, "We will decide whether or not to participate in negotiations by around June this year".

    He also mentioned the Joint Research on a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) among Japan, China, and the ROK, and also discussions on the East Asia Free Trade Area (EAFTA) and the Comprehensive Economic Partnership in East Asia (CEPEA). He referred to the World Trade Organization (WTO) Doha Round negotiations, as well.

    The second pillar is the stable supply of natural resources, energy and food. In this regard he mentioned that one of the issues is "to secure rare earths and other mineral resources", and "Japan has agreed to strengthen collaborative relationships with countries such as the U.S., Australia, Mongolia, India, Vietnam and Kazakhstan since the inauguration of the Kan administration".

    The third pillar is international promotion of Japanese infrastructure systems. He mentioned that "Last year, Japan was selected as the cooperation partner to construct nuclear power plants in Vietnam".

    The fourth is the promotion of Japan as a tourism-oriented nation. He mentioned the internationalization of Haneda Airport and open skies policy, and also, as for visas, he mentioned that "the Government has also relaxed certain requirements for Chinese individual tourists to obtain visas and newly created the Visa for Medical Stay."

    As for the International Environment Surrounding Japan and Strengthening of Relations with Countries and Regions, he said that the Japan-U.S. Alliance is not only the linchpin of Japan's foreign policy and security, but also a public good for the stability and prosperity not just of the Asia-Pacific region but also of the world.

    On the Japan-U.S. bilateral relationship, he mentioned the three pillars of security, economy, and cultural and people-to-people exchanges. And in relation to Prime Minister Kan's planned visit to the U.S. in the first half of this year, he envisions a new vision of the Japan-U.S. alliance for the twenty-first century in such a form as a joint statement on the occasion of the Prime Minister's visit.

    He mentioned the relationship with China, the Republic of Korea, Russia, among other countries and regions. As an introduction to the next topic, that is the Japan-Russia relationship, I would like to read the part of the relationship between Japan and the Russian Federation.

    "In terms of the relationship with Russia, we will work vigorously to engage for the settlement of the most outstanding issue, that is, the issue of the Northern Territories. At the same time, we will endeavor to advance our relations with Russia in each and every area so that Japan and Russia can build adequate ties as partners in the Asia-Pacific region. Based on this idea, I would like to visit Moscow as soon as possible and hold fruitful discussions with my Russian counterpart."

    He mentioned the active efforts on global issues, among others, but I would like to skip those.

    To conclude, he mentioned that "By steering diplomacy of the Kan Administration, I hereby declare my determination to lead this endeavor."

    So this is the first item that I would like to share with you, that is the policy speech of Foreign Minister Maehara.

  2. Japan-Russia relations

    3. Mr. Sobashima: Next, on Russia, as you know, on 24 January an explosion occurred in Moscow Domodedovo Airport, which resulted in many victims. Prime Minister Kan sent a message of condolences and sympathy to President Medvedev on the following day, 25 January, and condemned the terrorism, and expressed Japan's solidarity with the Russian government and Russian people. We have distributed the "G8 Foreign Ministers Statement on Terrorist Attack in Moscow" that was issued on the next day, 26 January, which begins with, "G8 countries condemn in the strongest terms the deadly terrorist attack that struck Moscow Domodedovo Airport."

    As you know, yesterday there was a meeting between our Deputy Minister Bessho and Mr. Alexei N. Borodavkin, Deputy Minister of the Russian Federation's Foreign Ministry.

    I already explained the basic policy vis-à-vis the Russian Federation. Our Foreign Minister himself expressed his intention to visit the Russian Federation at an early occasion. The schedule is still being arranged, so I am not in a position to confirm the dates, however we hope that he will be able to visit the Russian Federation at an early occasion.

    So this Vice-Minister-level consultation between the two countries was held in preparation for the Foreign Minister's visit to Moscow. They discussed bilateral issues as well as the regional and international situation.

    Not only Mr. Bessho, but also Mr. Sugiyama, Director-General of the Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau, had a meeting with Mr. Borodavkin, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation.

  3. Statement by Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan on the Approval of the New START Treaty by the Federation Council of the Russian Federation

    4. Mr. Sobashima: This is not specifically with Russia only, but on the relationship between the United States and the Russian Federation. We have distributed the statement by Minister of Foreign Affairs Seiji Maehara on the approval of the New START Treaty by the Federation Council of the Russian Federation.

    On Wednesday, 26 January (Moscow time), the Federation Council of the Russian Federation approved the so-called "New START Treaty".

    Japan welcomes the approval of this treaty by the Federation Council of the Russian Federation following the approval of the same treaty by the U.S. Senate last year.

    Japan strongly hopes that the efforts by both countries will lead to advancing global nuclear disarmament involving other nuclear weapon states, and furthermore, Japan anticipates that both countries will continue to make efforts toward further reduction of their nuclear arsenals.

    Japan will also display further leadership in the international community towards realizing "a world without nuclear weapons".

  4. Japan-Bulgaria Summit Meeting and Foreign Ministers' Meeting

    5. Mr. Sobashima: Then we have distributed the paper on the visit of the Bulgarian Prime Minister. The Bulgarian Prime Minister, Mr. Boyko Borissov, had a meeting with Prime Minister Kan on 24 January, and the Bulgarian Foreign Minister, Mr. Nickolay Mladenov, accompanying the Bulgarian Prime Minister, had a meeting with Foreign Minister Maehara on 25 January.

    At both meetings, at Prime Minister-level and Foreign Minister-level, bilateral relations were discussed, including the reference to the cooperation in the solar power generation and wind power generation, and also the aspiration for conclusion of the Japan-EU EPA, among other issues that they discussed.

  5. Second session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to prepare a global legally binding instrument on Mercury (INC2)

    6. Mr. Sobashima: Finally, my oral presentation about good news for us, and I hope also for the international community. The second session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to prepare a global legally binding instrument on Mercury (INC2) is being held in Makuhari, Chiba City, this week, from Monday 24 January to Friday 28 January. This is a part of the preparation for the diplomatic conference to adopt and sign the mercury treaty in the latter half of the year 2013. Japan proposed to host this diplomatic conference, and in the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee I mentioned that is being held in Makuhari, it was decided to hold the diplomatic conference in Japan. Japan intends to continue its efforts for the successful outcome of the diplomatic conference on the mercury treaty.

  6. VIP Visits

    7. Mr. Sobashima: As for the visits, as I already mentioned, the Bulgarian Prime Minister has visited Japan, and the Uzbekistan President, Mr. Islam Karimov will be coming to Japan from 8 February to 10 February. And from Japan State Secretary for Foreign Affairs Matsumoto is visiting Djibouti and Ethiopia between 24 January and 29 January, and State Secretary for Foreign Affairs Banno now is in China to visit Beijing and Hong Kong from 25 January to 28 January.

    Their Imperial Highnesses Prince and Princess Akishino are now in Costa Rica in their official visit.

    These are the topics and information I would like to share with you, and I now invite your questions.

  7. Questions concerning Japan-Russia relations

    8. Q: If I may I would like to come back to the relationship with Russia. You stressed that Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara said in his policy speech that, and I would like to quote it again, "at the same time, we will endeavor to advance our relations with Russia". In former times it was, as far as I know, that first there should be a resolution of the territorial issue and then you will enhance the relationship, especially for the economic relationship. Would you say that there is a small shift in the policy towards Russia now?

    Mr. Sobashima: There is no change about the basic policy. Of course we attach importance to the resolution of the territorial issue; however, we intend also to promote the relationship in various areas. So please take these statements as they are. There is no change in our basic stance.

    Q: Do you hope that there will be a change if Foreign Minister Maehara will visit Russia?

    Mr. Sobashima: The intention of the Foreign Minister is to achieve progress, so we hope that there will be progress.

  8. Question concerning the Foreign Policy Speech by Foreign Minister Maehara

    9. Q: I would like to stick with the foreign policy speech from Foreign Minister Maehara. There were rumors, and of course you will not confirm these rumors, but rumors about Foreign Minister Maehara's visit to North Korea. He denied that, but in general, would you say that it is a possibility that the Foreign Minister, Mr. Seiji Maehara, can visit North Korea?

    Mr. Sobashima: As you correctly pointed out there is no action taken on our side currently for the purpose of such a visit. Further than that I will refrain from saying what will happen when. What we want to emphasize is that we have a keen interest in and we attach great importance to resolving the abduction issue, so we intend to make every effort to this end. I would like to refrain from what sort of specific opportunities or occasion may take place in the future. What I would like to say is that we attach importance to resolving the abduction issue.

  9. Questions concerning Japan-Germany relations

    10. Q: Then I would like to shift and go to the Germany-Japan relations if I may. On Monday there were the celebrations of 150 years of the relations between Japan and Germany since the signing of the treaty between then Prussia and the shogunate of Japan at that time. I was wondering if..., the relations of course are really quite good, I have no doubt about that, but to celebrate this treaty is something a little bit strange in my opinion for Japan, because this was an unequal treaty, and Japan intended to change this treaty. So how does Japan feel?

    Mr. Sobashima: I would like to refrain from the characteristics of the said treaty and how the people at that time, or perhaps still now, were commenting on the treaty itself. What we celebrate is the beginning of the relationship, because, as you have pointed out, we view that the relationship now is excellent. So we will celebrate the beginning of the relationship. But many people may have many views, and I am not able to sort of reflect on each and every view of those people who have a comment on the first document or agreement of 150 years ago.

    Q: I had a chance to be there and listen to the speech of State Secretary Matsumoto, and of course he stressed the good relationship between the two countries, but he was also pointing out that there is some room to improve the relationship, for instance regarding tourism, also EPA, and the German side was really just saying everything was fine and great. So the Japanese side is seeing that there is something which should be improved?

    Mr. Sobashima: I am afraid that your question seems to me to be too abstract. Of course further development or further progress should be welcome anytime, but I am not in a position now to identify in which areas we have special concerns. However, as I mentioned earlier, as part of our Foreign Ministry's economic diplomacy, we hope that vis-à-vis the European Union we will be able to start negotiations of an EPA soon. Therefore, perhaps Germany may be able to assist or be helpful in this regard, among other things that we hope from Germany.

  10. Question concerning the possible visit of Prime Minister Kan to Davos to participate in the World Economic Forum

    11. Q: If I may have a last question regarding the Davos visit of Prime Minister Kan. It is reported that he will visit Davos, and will he hold a speech or something?

    Mr. Sobashima: If Prime Minister Kan is to visit Davos there should be an appropriate occasion, therefore your sort of guess should be correct. However the current situation is that the Prime Minister intends to go to Davos if the approval of the Diet is obtained. This is our understanding at present. Our understanding is that the Prime Minister intends to visit Davos to participate in the World Economic Forum if the approval is forthcoming from the Diet. So we are not in a position at this moment to confirm the visit yet.

    If you have no further questions, thank you very much.

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