Overview of the Meeting between Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and Vice President Richard B. Cheney of the United States of America
April 12, 2004
On April 12, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi held talks and had a working lunch with Vice President Richard B. Cheney of the United States of America at the Iikura House of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs during the latter's visit to Japan. The following is an overview of the meeting.
1. Opening
Prime Minister Koizumi warmly welcomed the visit by Vice President Cheney on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of Japan-US relationship. In response, Vice President Cheney conveyed a message from President George W. Bush of the United States of America expressing his appreciation for Prime Minister Koizumi's friendship and leadership, followed by his own remarks on the importance of the close Japan-US cooperation in various areas.
2. Japanese hostage situation
With regard to the hostage taking of three Japanese nationals in Iraq, Prime Minister Koizumi stated that the Government of Japan was making every possible effort to safely rescue the three hostages and expressed his appreciation for the cooperation provided by the US. Vice President Cheney assured that the US would cooperate in every way to resolve this situation.
3. Iraq
Vice President Cheney stated that he highly valued Japan's contribution for the reconstruction of Iraq including the activity of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces (SDF) in Samawah and expressed his appreciation in this regard. Vice President Cheney also expressed the strong resolve of the US to realize the transfer of sovereignty to the people of Iraq on June 30, and to work together with the United Nations (UN) and the international community.
Prime Minister Koizumi stated that the people of Iraq themselves needed to be at the fore front take strong initiative of the reconstruction of Iraq, and that both Japan and the US needed to continue providing assistance to support such efforts by the people of Iraq. He stated that Japan would continue providing its humanitarian and reconstruction assistance to Iraq. The Prime Minister stated that it was necessary to ensure international cooperation and that the role of the UN was important in this regard. He stated that Japan had full trust in the cause and goodwill of the US and thus had supported the US from the beginning. In a related note, Prime Minister Koizumi also raised the need to reform the UN including Security Council reform.
4. Economy
Vice President Cheney stated his view that the Japanese economy was rapidly recovering. In response, Prime Minister Koizumi stated that the current situation of the Japanese economy was completely different from that of the previous year and that it was important for the world economy that both the Japanese and the US economies were in sound condition.
5. North Korea
Prime Minister Koizumi noted the need for Japan and the US to closely cooperate to resolve the North Korea issues in a peaceful manner and stated that it was important for North Korea to understand that both Japan and the US were seeking a peaceful and diplomatic solution. Vice President Cheney stated the importance of advancing the six-party talks in order to achieve a complete, verifiable and irreversible dismantlement of all nuclear programs by North Korea, as well as the importance of China's cooperation.
Prime Minister Koizumi and Vice President Cheney confirmed the necessity to resolve the abduction issue.
6. Weapons of Mass Destruction
Prime Minister Koizumi and Vice President Cheney agreed on the need to deal with the issue of proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction.
7. China and Taiwan
Prime Minister Koizumi and Vice President Cheney confirmed that they shared the understanding that stability in the relations between China and Taiwan was important.
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