Press Conference by the Press Secretary 26 November, 1999

1. Announcement of the visit of Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi to the Republic of Indonesia and also on the upcoming ASEAN+3 Summit Meeting in Manila
2. Announcement on the State Visit of His Majesty King Abdullah Il Bin Al-Hussein of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and Her Majesty Queen Rania Al-Abdullah
3. Issues relating to the announcement of Japan's Comprehensive Assistance Package to Jordan
4. Questions relating to Japan's possible financial assistance to ASEAN countries and issues raised concerning the ASEAN+3 Summit Meeting and the possible participation of the Peoples' Republic of China in the forthcoming G8 Summit
5. Questions regarding meetings between Japanese and Republic of Cuba officials and other issues

1. Announcement of the visit of Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi to the Republic of Indonesia and also on the upcoming ASEAN+3 Summit Meeting in Manila

   Deputy Press Secretary Chikahito Harada: Good afternoon. I have two announcements to make. The first announcement is on the visit of Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi to the Republic of Indonesia and also on the upcoming Third Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN+3) Summit Meeting in Manila. This morning Prime Minister Obuchi left for Jakarta and will spend one night there. He will meet President Abdurrahman Wahid of the Republic of Indonesia, Vice President Megawati Setyawati Soekarnoputri and other leaders of Indonesia. President Wahid, as you recall, visited Japan just ten days ago on 15 and 16 November, so this is a sort of return visit. This visit demonstrates the strong intention to strengthen and promote our relationship with Indonesia. Prime Minister Obuchi will move to Manila on Saturday 27 November to take part in the ASEAN+3 Summit Meeting. He will also hold bilateral meetings there. In addition, there will be an informal breakfast meeting of the leaders of Japan, the Peoples' Republic of China and the Republic of Korea. The main agenda of the ASEAN+3 meeting is how to promote regional cooperation in East Asia, taking into account the experiences of currency and economic crises in Asia. The ASEAN+3 meeting will adopt a "Joint Statement on East Asian cooperation." At the meeting, Prime Minister Obuchi will express Japan's intention to play an active role in strengthening regional cooperation based on the Joint Statement to be adopted. In this context, Prime Minister Obuchi will explain Japan's contribution to regional cooperation, particularly in the area of human resources development and the promotion of human exchange.

   Related Information (Meeting of the Heads of State and Government of ASEAN, China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea)
   
2. Announcement on the State Visit of His Majesty King Abdullah Il Bin Al-Hussein of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and Her Majesty Queen Rania Al-Abdullah

   Mr. Harada: My second announcement is on the State Visit of His Majesty King Abdullah Il Bin Al-Hussein of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and Her Majesty Queen Rania Al-Abdullah. Their Majesties The King and Queen of Jordan will make a State Visit to Japan from 30 November to 4 December. The King and Queen of Jordan will make a State Call on the Their Majesties The Emperor and Empress of Japan on 1 December and The Emperor and Empress of Japan will host a State Dinner in honor of The King and Queen of Jordan. King Abdullah Il Bin Al-Hussein will hold a meeting with Prime Minister Obuchi on 2 November. They will exchange views on bilateral relations as well as international issues, including the Middle East peace process and Japan's economic assistance to Jordan. Regarding the Middle East peace process, we would like to listen to Jordan's leader's assessment of the current situation of the peace process. Prime Minister Obuchi will reaffirm Japan's readiness to contribute to the peace process. Regarding economic assistance to Jordan, we recognize that with its geo-strategic position, Jordan's political and economic stability has a direct bearing on the stability of the Middle East region. With this recognition, Japan has been extending economic assistance to Jordan. We are now working on a Comprehensive Assistance Package which Prime Minister Obuchi will explain to King Abdullah Il Bin Al-Hussein. We believe that through this visit, the relationship of mutual trust between the two countries will be reaffirmed and also the traditionally friendly relations between the two countries will be further strengthened.

   Related Information (Japan-Jordan Relations)
   
3. Issues relating to the announcement of Japan's Comprehensive Assistance Package to Jordan

   Q: I have two questions. The first relates to the King Abdullah visit. You mention now that Japan is working on a package of assistance for Jordan and that Mr. Obuchi will explain it to the Jordanian King. So, could you elaborate on the nature of the new financial assistance to Jordan?

   The second question is related to the first one. I would like to know if the Israeli Foreign Minister David Levy will visit Japan in the middle of next month or not?

   Mr. Harada: Regarding the first question on the Comprehensive Assistance Package to Jordan, we are still finalizing this package, at this moment so at this stage I cannot explain the details of the package. It consists of financial and technical assistance.

   On the second question, I can only say that such a visit has not been decided yet. I cannot confirm that this visit will be taking place.

   Q: Concerning the assistance to Jordan I read a report in Yomiuri Shimbun today that said that the Prime Minister is going to send around 35 billion yen to Jordan.

   Mr. Harada: As I said, we are now working on the package so I cannot confirm that.

   Related Information (Japan-Jordan Relations)
   
4. Questions relating to Japan's possible financial assistance to ASEAN countries and issues raised concerning the ASEAN+3 Summit Meeting and the possible participation of the Peoples' Republic of China in the forthcoming G8 Summit

   Q: Regarding ASEAN and Japan's contribution to human resources development -- which areas are you targeting? Just a couple of days ago the Deputy Press Secretary to Prime Minister Obuchi said that the amount of this assistance would be quite substantial. Could you give me some more concrete details?

   Mr. Harada: Again, I think this is something that Prime Minister Obuchi wants to announce by himself so I will have to refrain from going into details. But concerning human resources development, I think that one of the areas will be the financial sector.

   Q: You mentioned the ASEAN Summit Meeting between Japan, South Korea and China. Which topics will be discussed between these three leaders? As a second question, I would like to know if Japan is hesitating to invite China to attend the G8 Summit?

   Mr. Harada: The first question on this tri-partite informal breakfast meeting of leaders of Japan, the Peoples' Republic of China and the Republic of Korea was originally suggested by Prime Minister Obuchi and we are glad that this is going to be realized this time. Since this is the first meeting of the tri-partite leaders, there is an understanding that we are going to exchange views mainly on economic issues. But since this is a meeting of the leaders, any issue could be raised so I cannot pre-judge the agenda of this meeting. But as I told you, the understanding is that they will mainly talk about economic issues.

   Q: I am sorry. What about North Korea?

   Mr. Harada: I cannot pre-judge whether they will take up the North Korea issue. I can say that it is not decided that North Korea will be taken up. And concerning your question on participation of China in the G8 Summit, you said that Japan is hesitating to invite China, which is not correct. So I would like to clarify our position on this issue. Generally speaking, the expansion of membership requires careful consideration from the view point of the effectiveness of discussion among members and policy coordination. And at the same time, we have to consider whether China wants to participate in the G8 Summit. We would like to consult on this matter with other G8 member countries taking into account the intention of China.

   Related Information (Meeting of the Heads of State and Government of ASEAN, China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea)
   
5. Questions regarding meetings between Japanese and Republic of Cuba officials and other issues

   Q: There were some meetings between Japanese and Cuban officials. Do you think Japan-Cuban relations are at a turning point at this period of time?

   Mr. Harada: You mean the meeting itself?

   Q: In general. The relations between Japan and Cuba.

   Mr. Harada: I do not know whether I would describe it as a turning point, but we attach importance to promoting bilateral relations with the Republic of Cuba and from that point of view, as you mentioned, the delegation headed by Chairman Hiroshi Mitsuzuka of the Japan-Cuba Parliamentary League, a member of the Diet, visited Cuba and exchanged views with the leaders of Cuba. I think the visit of that delegation contributed to the bilateral relations with Cuba.

   Q: There is a United States blockade against Cuba. What is Japan's position toward this?

   Mr. Harada: The United States of America has its own position vis-a-vis Cuba. I do not think Japan wants to make a comment on the measures which the United States has taken vis-a-vis Cuba. We have our own relationship with Cuba and we will promote this relationship.

   Q: Concerning Cuba, there were reports that the Japanese delegation has reached a basic agreement on the rescheduling of short-term debt. Are you able to confirm this?

   Mr. Harada: I can say that we came to an agreement with the Government of Cuba the day before yesterday on the repayment of short-term official debt and we welcome this agreement.

   Q: As for the long-term debt, is there going to be any discussion about this?

   Mr. Harada: I do not have information with me on the situation regarding long-term debt, so I can only tell you about the short-term official debt.

   Q: I read an article regarding the issue of the Special Yen Loan. Can you confirm that article?

   Mr. Harada: Concerning the Special Yen Loan, we are now studying with the other ministries concerned the possibility to expand areas and countries which can be provided with the Special Yen Loan, but at this stage we have not come to a decision yet. However, we are considering that issue.

   Q: Are you saying that what has been written in this article is what is being discussed?

   Mr. Harada: I do not remember the exact details of the article which you mentioned, however, we are studying positively the expansion of the areas and countries which can be provided with the Special Yen Loan.

   Related Information (Japan-Cuba Relations)