Press Conference by the Deputy Press Secretary, 20 October 2011
- Prime Minister Noda’s visit to the Republic of Korea
- Foreign Minister Gemba’s visit to Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia
- Emergency assistance to the Kingdom of Thailand in response to the flood disaster
- Emergency assistance to the Republic of El Salvador in response to the heavy rain disaster
- Israeli decision regarding the construction of housing units in East Jerusalem
- 2011 JETAA-I International Meeting
- Upcoming events and visits
- Questions on the bilateral talks between the United States and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
- Questions on the summit meeting between Prime Minister Noda and the President of the Republic of Korea Lee Myung-bak
- Prime Minister Noda’s visit to the Republic of Korea
- Foreign Minister Gemba’s visit to Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia
- Emergency assistance to the Kingdom of Thailand in response to the flood disaster
- Emergency assistance to the Republic of El Salvador in response to the heavy rain disaster
- Israeli decision regarding the construction of housing units in East Jerusalem
- 2011 JETAA-I International Meeting
- Upcoming events and visits
- Questions on the bilateral talks between the United States and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
- Questions on the summit meeting between Prime Minister Noda and the President of the Republic of Korea Lee Myung-bak
Deputy Press Secretary Naoko Saiki: Prime Minister Noda held a summit meeting with President Lee Myung-bak of the Republic of Korea yesterday. This was his first official visit to a foreign country since the assumption of office last month for the purposes of holding bilateral talks.
The two leaders agreed on more frequent visits at various levels, including those of themselves and of foreign ministers, for closer consultation. In this context, President Lee’s visit to Japan at an early date was agreed.
They also agreed to launch a second joint research by experts in order to write a strategy paper identifying issues on which Japan and the Republic of Korea should cooperate.
The two leaders also agreed to expand the current currency-swap scheme to a total of 70 billion US dollars from 13 billion US dollars in an attempt to stabilize the foreign exchange market. They moreover agreed to accelerate working level talks towards the early resumption of stalled negotiations on a bilateral economic partnership agreement. And they agreed to continue close consultation and cooperation given the current security situation in the region, and, in particular, on North Korea they shared the view that it would be essential to make the North Koreans take concrete steps to resolve the outstanding issues.
On Foreign Minister Gemba’s visit to Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia between 11-15 October. The visit has produced very positive results; firstly, we have been able to further deepen our bilateral relationships with these countries to the maintenance and enhancement of stability and prosperity in the Asia Pacific region.
Secondly, substantial discussions took place on economic issues, such as economic cooperation for infrastructure development and the TPP negotiations.
Thirdly, there was agreement that Japan and Asian countries would further strengthen an open, multi-layered network in the region through various cooperative measures.
Ms. Saiki: On emergency assistance to the Kingdom of Thailand in response to the flood disaster, Japan has decided to provide emergency relief goods worth 55 million yen following the disastrous floods through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
In addition, Japan has sent a JICA expert to join an ASEAN assessment team to Thailand and Cambodia, and also sent a JICA survey team to visit affected areas in order to evaluate the country’s long-term recovery needs.
Ms. Saiki: On emergency assistance to the Republic of El Salvador in response to the heavy rain disaster, Japan has decided to provide emergency relief goods worth 15 million yen to El Salvador through JICA following the heavy rain disaster.
Ms. Saiki: On the Israeli decision regarding the construction of housing units in East Jerusalem, the Press Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan issued a statement that the government of Japan deeply deplores that, according to the news, the Israeli Government announced a plan of the construction of 2,610 new housing units in Givat Hamatos of East Jerusalem.
Settlement activities are a violation of international law, and Japan has repeatedly called upon Israel to fully freeze settlement activities. Japan reiterates its strong call to Israel to refrain from any unilateral act that changes the current situation in East Jerusalem.
Ms. Saiki: Lastly, on the 2011 JETAA-I International Meeting. A press release prepared by the JETAA-I is available in this room for your reference.
The 2011 JETAA-I meeting will be held in Tokyo on 21-22 October. Tokyo has been chosen as this year’s venue in honor of both the 25th anniversary of the JET Programme and the Great East Japan Earthquake. 16 participants from 10 countries (the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, France, Jamaica, England, Canada, Ireland, and South Africa) are expected to attend. The meeting participants are planning to visit Tohoku from the evening of Saturday, 22 October to the early morning of 24 October. On 23 October, they are planning to take part in volunteer efforts in Rikuzentakata-shi.
In addition, the alumni association in the United States, JETAA USA, will donate approximately 76 thousand US dollars to relief efforts in Japan.
[INBOUND]
20-22 October
Working Visit to Japan upon Invitation by Minister for Foreign Affairs by His Exellency Mr. Wunna Maung Lwin, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar
23-28 October
Official Visit to Japan by His Excellency Mr. Christian Wulff, President of the Federal Republic of Germany
30 October
Visit to Japan by His Royal Highness Joachim Holger Waldemar Christian, Prince of Denmark, and Her Royal Highness Princess Marie Agathe Odile
30 October – 2 November
Official Working Visit to Japan by His Excellency Mr. Nguyen Tan Dung, Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam
12-13 November
African Festa 2011
(Yokohama City)
15-19 November
State Visit to Japan by His Majesty Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, King of Bhutan, and Her Majesty the Queen Jetsun Pema Wangchuck
16 November
Visit to Japan by Executive Director of the IEA Maria van del Hoeven
[OUTBOUND]
17-21 October
The Second Round of Negotiations on an Agreement between Japan and India on Social Security
(India)
20 October
The 11th Japan-NATO High-Level Consultation
(Brussels, Belgium)
22-26 October
Meeting of the New Japan-China Friendship Committee for the 21st Century
(Changsha -- in Hunan Province -- and Beijing, China）
3-4 November
G-20 Summit
(Cannes, France)
11 November
APEC Ministerial Meeting
(Honolulu, USA)
12-13 November
APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting
(Honolulu, USA)
17-19 November
ASEAN-related Summit Meetings
(Bali, Indonesia)
28 November – 9 December
The Seventeenth Session of the Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP17)
(Durban, South Africa)
5 December
The International Afghanistan Conference in Bonn
(Bonn, Germany)
5-22 December
The Seventh Review Conference of Biological Weapons Convention
(Geneva, Switzerland)
Do you have any questions or observations?
Q: The United States government has announced that they will be holding bilateral talks with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on 24-25 October in Geneva—how does Japan see this bilateral meeting? What do you think will happen because of these talks?
Ms. Saiki: Thank you.
With respect to the question on North Korea, in particular the nuclear issue, the missile issue, and the abduction issue, I wish to reiterate what I explained to you at the outset on the summit meeting between Prime Minister Noda and President Lee Myung-bak, we understand that the cooperation and collaboration between Japan and the Republic of Korea, and that amongst Japan, the Republic of Korea and the United States, the so-called trilateral cooperation, is of critical importance to solve these issues. In that respect, we urge North Koreans to take concrete positive steps to implement the joint statement agreed upon by the six parties.
Q: Just to further that point, so can one assume the next round of six party talks will not happen unless North Korea takes these concrete steps that Japan, the Republic of Korea, and the United States urged them to?
Ms. Saiki: Thank you for the question.
We are always open to dialogue. Our windows are always open to the North Koreans, but I think, in line with the principle of “commitment for commitment, action for action”, our stance is that North Korea must take concrete steps toward achieving goals in order to resume the six party talks.
Q: Going back to the summit meeting between Prime Minister Noda and the South Korean President, they agreed on the acceleration of the working level talks considering the Japan-Korea EPA, but even though they agreed on that, the EPA talks are not really going forward—why do you think it’s not really gaining momentum or going forward in terms of the Japan-Korea EPA?
Ms. Saiki: Thank you for the question.
First of all, Japan and the Republic of Korea share fundamental values, such as democracy, market mechanism, human rights, the rule of law, etc. and have so many things in common. We have shared interests in the Asia Pacific region, and in order to revitalize the economies of both countries we need to take in the dynamism from the Asia Pacific region.
In that respect, Prime Minister Noda believes that in order to lead negotiations on rules in trade and investment in the Asia Pacific region for the part of Japan and the Republic of Korea, the two countries first have to agree on the liberalization and integration of trade and economy between the two countries so that these two countries will be in a position to exert good influences on on-going rule-making negotiations in the Asia Pacific region in the field of trade and investment.
Furthermore, of course, as Prime Minister, Mr. Noda is very much interested in helping out Japanese individuals, companies, and corporations engaging in businesses overseas. Definitely with a free trade agreement, or an economic partnership agreement, with the Republic of Korea we would be able to make substantial contribution to those Japanese citizens, corporations, and companies operating vis-à-vis the ROK. That is another reason.
To agree upon an EPA is not limited to the economic interests in a narrow sense. But to sign on to an economic partnership agreement with a certain country means that political ties with that particular country will be strengthened. So those are the reasons why Prime Minister Noda is requesting the early resumption of the negotiations on a Japan-Korea economic partnership agreement through the acceleration of working level talks between the two countries. President Lee of the Republic of Korea agreed on the statement made by Prime Minister Noda.
Q: The question that I wanted to ask was, even though they agreed on the early resumption of the EPA talks, that phase has been agreed upon by the two countries for a while now, and even though they talk about acceleration and going forward in the talks, the talks have not resumed yet. Why are these states not really going forward with the EPA talks?
Ms. Saiki: Thank you for the question.
Both countries have sensitive items and sensitive sectors domestically. Furthermore, I understand the Republic of Korea has been concerned about a possible widening of the trade deficit vis-à-vis Japan. If an EPA between the two countries is signed, in the eyes of the Republic of Korea, the trade deficit, which does exist at present, will be increased. That is one of the hurdles they have to clear. That is the reason why the negotiations have been stalled for a while.
But I think in order to get things going forward, political momentum and instructions from the top will be very, very important. So I really hope the agreement between the two leaders yesterday will pave the way for accelerating substantial negotiations on an EPA between the two countries.
I think I have exhausted the questions. Thank you very much for coming. I will be seeing you next week.
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