Top > Announcement > Press Conference by the Press Secretary of MOFA > 8 March 2012

Press Conference by the Deputy Press Secretary, 8 March 2012

  1. Japan-Thailand Summit Meeting
  2. Visit to Japan by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of the Kingdom of Morocco
  3. Telephone Talks Between Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda and Chairman of the Government of Russia Vladimir Putin
  4. Tenth Informal Meeting on Further Actions against Climate Change
  5. Report of the Joint Study on the Possibility of a Japan-Canada Economic Partnership Agreement
  6. Production of Video and Photographic Materials about Reconstruction from the Great East Japan Earthquake
  7. Visit to Japan by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Timor-Leste
  8. Visit to Japan by the Prime Minister of the Lao People's Democratic Republic
  9. Visit to Japan by the Prime Minister of Mongolia
  10. Projects to Introduce Regional Japanese Culture to Various Countries in Europe

  1. Japan-Thailand Summit Meeting

    2. Deputy Press Secretary Ms. Naoko Saiki: Good afternoon, everyone. Let me begin by touching up on several topics.

    Ms. Saiki: First, on the Japan-Thailand summit meeting. Yesterday, on March 7, Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda held a meeting with Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra of the Kingdom of Thailand. They issued the Joint Statement on the Strategic Partnership based on the Enduring Bonds of Friendship - Fostering Confidence beyond the Disasters. Prime Minister Noda and Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra recognized that Japan and Thailand have a strong foundation of mutual friendship and cooperation based on 600 years of historical ties of exchanges, and they emphasized the importance of further strengthening the strategic partnership between the two countries in order to address bilateral, regional and international issues in the fields of economy, society, development, security, and political cooperation. The two leaders renewed their determination to further develop the Japan-Thailand Strategic partnership.

  2. Visit to Japan by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of the Kingdom of Morocco

    3. Ms. Saiki: Second, on the visit to Japan by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of the Kingdom of Morocco. On March 5, Dr. Saad Dine El Otmani, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of the Kingdom of Morocco, who was visiting Japan as a guest of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda. Also on the same day, Minister for Foreign Affairs Koichiro Gemba held a meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Saad Dine El Otmani of Morocco. Following the meeting, the two Foreign Ministers signed a joint statement and exchanged notes regarding non-project grant aid of 300 million yen for provision of industrial products.

  3. Telephone Talks Between Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda and Chairman of the Government of Russia Vladimir Putin

    4. Ms. Saiki: Third, on telephone talks between Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda and Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin. On March 5, Prime Minister Noda held telephone talks with Russian Chairman Putin. During the telephone talks, Prime Minister Noda expressed his congratulations on Chairman Putin being certain to be elected president of Russia, and stated that he is looking forward to cooperating with President Putin to enhance Japan-Russia relations.

  4. Tenth Informal Meeting on Further Actions against Climate Change

    5. Ms. Saiki: Fourth, on the Tenth Informal Meeting on Further Actions against Climate Change. The Tenth Informal Meeting on Further Actions against Climate Change was held in Tokyo on March 1 and 2. Government officials from 30 countries and representatives of international organizations concerned participated. The meeting served as a good opportunity to kickoff this year's discussion in the path to COP 18.

  5. Report of the Joint Study on the Possibility of a Japan-Canada Economic Partnership Agreement

    6. Ms. Saiki: Fifth, on a report of the joint study on the possibility of a Japan-Canada economic partnership agreement. The joint study on the possibility of a Japan-Canada economic partnership agreement was embarked on following the agreement between the Prime Ministers of Japan and Canada in November 2010. Government officials from both Japan and Canada attended four joint study meetings. During these meetings, officials engaged in substantive discussions on elements of a possible Japan-Canada EPA, and welcomed the views of private-sector stakeholders on a possible EPA. The findings of the joint study are presented in the report, which was jointly drafted by the Government of Japan and the Government of Canada. In conclusion, the joint study found sufficient common ground to launch the negotiation of a comprehensive and high-level economic partnership agreement, leading to additional trade flows and economic gains for both Japan and Canada.

  6. Production of Video and Photographic Materials about Reconstruction from the Great East Japan Earthquake

    7. Ms. Saiki: Sixth, on production of video and photographic materials about reconstruction from the Great East Japan Earthquake. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has produced video and photographic materials to communicate to other countries how Japan is moving toward revitalization by achieving reconstruction from the Great East Japan Earthquake.

  7. Visit to Japan by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Timor-Leste

    8. Ms. Saiki: Seventh, on the visit to Japan by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Timor-Leste. From Wednesday, March 7 to Saturday, March 10, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Zacarias Albano da Costa of Timor-Leste, his wife, and their entourage, will visit Japan at the invitation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

  8. Visit to Japan by the Prime Minister of the Lao People's Democratic Republic

    9. Ms. Saiki: Eighth, on the visit to Japan by the Prime Minister of the Lao People's Democratic Republic. From Wednesday, March 14 to Sunday, March 18, Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong of Laos will officially pay a working visit to Japan.

  9. Visit to Japan by the Prime Minister of Mongolia

    10. Ms. Saiki: Ninth, on the visit to Japan by the Prime Minister of Mongolia. From Saturday, March 10, to Thursday, March 15, Prime Minister Sukhbaatar Batbold of Mongolia, his spouse, and their delegation, will pay an official working visit to Japan.

  10. Projects to Introduce Regional Japanese Culture to Various Countries in Europe

    11. Ms. Saiki: Lastly, on projects to introduce regional Japanese culture to various countries in Europe. In order to communicate the charm of Japanese cuisine and regions, in particular those of Tohoku, to overseas as a part of reconstruction measures following the Great East Japan Earthquake, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been carrying out projects in a number of countries around the world in close cooperation with local governments and the private sector. In collaboration with local governments of Iwate Prefecture, local performance groups will give public performances in Europe this time.

    With these initial announcements, now I will be happy to take your questions. If there are none, I would like to end here. Thank you.

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