Courtesy Call on Prime Minister Naoto Kan by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton

April 17, 2011
Japanese

(Photos: Cabinet Public Relations Office)

On Sunday, April 17, for about 35 minutes from 15:50, Prime Minister Naoto Kan received a courtesy call by The Honorable Hillary Rodham Clinton, Secretary of State of the United States of America, who was visiting Japan.
Prime Minister Kan expressed his gratitude for the visit to Japan by Secretary Clinton, and the determination expressed by President Obama after the Great East Japan Earthquake to provide assistance to Japan in any form, as well as for the full assistance provided by the government organizations of the United States. He also stated that he was greatly encouraged by the positive evaluation of the Japanese economy given by Secretary Clinton’s visit to Japan with Mr. Thomas Donohue, President and CEO of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. In response, Secretary Clinton reiterated the message from President Obama in which he stated that the United States is strongly determined to provide every assistance to Japan. She also stated that Japan would surely recover from the disaster, and that she was visiting Japan not only to express her sympathies and condolences but also to affirm the continuous partnership and friendship between Japan and the United States. She further stated that the Government and the private sector of the United States intend to provide any appropriate assistance.
With regard to Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Station, Prime Minister Kan stated that the Tokyo Electric Power Company, Inc. (TEPCO) had announced a roadmap towards resolution from the accidents. He also stated that Japan would continue to respond to this matter in close cooperation with the United States, and that Japan has the responsibility to share the lessons from the accidents with the international community so that other countries can make use of them. In response, Secretary Clinton stated that she hoped that Japan and the United States would stay in close communication, including responding to this matter in the international arena.
Prime Minister Kan expressed his strong determination toward achieving Japan’s recovery and reconstruction. Secretary Clinton stated that she supports the determination of Prime Minister Kan, and that the United States would like to extend full cooperation for Japan’s reconstruction, and therefore hoped that Japan and the United States would work closely with each other regarding this matter as well.

(*This is a provisional translation. The above date denotes the date of the issue of the original press release in Japanese.)

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