Press Conference 17 October 2003

1. Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministerial and Economic Leaders' Meeting in Bangkok, Kingdom of Thailand
2. Statement by Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi on the adoption of the United Nations Security Council resolution on Iraq
3. Question concerning poison gas incident in Qiqihar City, People's Republic of China
4. Question concerning recent manned space travel by China
5. Question concerning Japan-China relations
6. Questions concerning informal meeting in Tokyo between Prime Minister Koizumi and visiting President George W. Bush of the United States

1. Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministerial and Economic Leaders' Meeting in Bangkok, Kingdom of Thailand

   Assistant Press Secretary Jiro Okuyama: Good afternoon. Today I would like to talk about two things.

   First of all, I may start by talking about the itineraries relating to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministerial as well as the Economic Leaders' Meeting which are taking place in Bangkok.

   Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi will have a number of bilateral meetings this afternoon with Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirajuda of the Republic of Indonesia, Minister of Foreign Affairs Phil Goff of New Zealand, Director-General Supachai Panitchpakdi of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and Minister of Foreign Affairs S. Jayakumar of the Republic of Singapore. Tomorrow, Foreign Minister Kawaguchi is scheduled to meet Minister of Foreign Affairs Surakiat Sathirathai of the Kingdom of Thailand in the afternoon followed by Secretary of State Colin Powell of the United States of America and also Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Yoon Young-kwan of the Republic of Korea.

   Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi will arrive in Bangkok in the evening of this upcoming Sunday. On Monday, he is scheduled to have a meeting with President Roh Moo-hyun of the Republic of Korea in the morning.

   Related Information (APEC 2003)
   
2. Statement by Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi on the adoption of the United Nations Security Council resolution on Iraq

   Mr. Okuyama: So much for APEC, and I would like to draw your attention now to the adoption of the new United Nations Security Council Resolution 1511. I would like to draw on what Foreign Minister Kawaguchi said earlier today as a statement:

   At a formal meeting of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) held in the morning of 16 October, the Council adopted, by an unanimous vote, UNSC resolution 1511 which includes clarification of the political process in Iraq and the UN role and the establishment of a multilateral force, and so on.

   Japan welcomes the adoption of the resolution as it indicates a clear vision of Iraq's future and affirms the concerted effort of the international community to reconstruct Iraq and secure its stability, and appreciates the efforts so far of the United States and UNSC member countries.

   Japan hopes that with further cooperation of the UN, the Governing Council of Iraq, the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) and each Member State, reconstruction and stability in Iraq will be further advanced and a government enjoying the wide support from the international community and the people of Iraq will be established soon.

   Wide-ranging cooperation of the international community is indispensable for reconstruction and stabilization in Iraq. The Government of Japan, which announced on 15 October that it would provide the immediate grant aid totaling US$1.5 billion for the reconstruction of Iraq, intends to continue the efforts proactively and on its own initiative for the reconstruction of Iraq. Japan also intends to extend cooperation appropriate to its scale, in accordance with the Iraq Reconstruction Assistance Special Measures Law.

   Related Information (Statement by Ms. Yoriko Kawaguchi, Minister for Foreign Affairs, on the Adoption of the United Nations Security Council Resolution on Iraq)
   
3. Question concerning poison gas incident in Qiqihar City, People's Republic of China

   Q: In relation to what is happening between Japan and the People's Republic of China on the poisonous gas incident in Qiqihar City in China, there are reports that although both sides are trying to negotiate a settlement, they have not arrived at any particular agreement. Firstly, what is the cause that they have not? And what are the differences between the two sides?

   Secondly, according to press reports, the two sides are now discussing the payment of about 400 million Japanese yen and final coordination is under way as to how this amount should be paid. What is the actual situation of the negotiations at the moment?

   Mr. Okuyama: On this poison gas incident which took place in the City of Qiqihar on 4 August, there have been working-level discussions between the two countries; the most recent one was the third consultation which took place from 13 to 15 October at the Chinese Foreign Ministry in Beijing.

   The consultation was attended from the Japanese side by Mr. Horinouchi, Director for China of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, and other related officials.

   From the Chinese side, it was the director in charge of the chemical weapons deserted by Japan of the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

   The main contents of the discussions were: firstly, how to cope with this current incident including the disposal of the drum containers which was the very cause of this incident; secondly, how similar incidents can be prevented from recurring in the future; thirdly, how we can possibly improve the overall activities relating to the disposal of the deserted chemical weapons.

   As a result of the discussions this time around, the two sides agreed to continue the discussion.

   Since the discussions are still going on and there are various differences between the two sides, which have not boiled down to a specific agreement, we can only refrain from commenting on the actual contents of the positions that the two sides are taking, including reports that this payment from the Japanese side is at the final coordination stage.

   Related Information (Japan-China Relations)
   
4. Question concerning recent manned space travel by China

   Q: On the successful completion of manned space travel by China. There are reports that Japan is now skipping the stage of manned space travel. Is this true?

   Also, does Japan have any plan to launch a manned spacecraft in the future?

   Mr. Okuyama: On the successful completion of the launch and return of the manned spacecraft, the Government of Japan would like to express its sincere congratulations to the great success that China has achieved. We believe this success, where China has become the only country to successfully follow the Russian Federation and the United States in manned space travel, is very significant from the point of view of the advancement of science and technology in the field of humankind's challenge with respect to space.

   Japan hopes that space development will be further enhanced in a manner which will serve to the improvement of the welfare of humankind, taking into account such technological progress.

   As for the rather technical question of whether Japan has the technology to skip manned space travel and jump to unmanned space travel and what the considerations are that are being made within the Government of Japan about these two different kinds of space travel, these are things that are very technical and I am afraid I do not have a ready answer. I might refer you to the relevant ministry, such as the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.

   On the question whether Japan has any plan in the future to launch a manned spacecraft, I am afraid my answer will have to be the same: I do not know about this.

   Q: What are the possible implications for Japanese official development assistance (ODA) to China with it having attained success at such a high level of technology?

   Mr. Okuyama: Generally speaking, we believe that it is extremely important not only for the peace and prosperity of Japan but also for the Asia Pacific region as a whole that China develop on a stable basis, and that the stable and friendly relations between Japan and China be strengthened.

   On how we implement Japan's ODA to China, we believe that two factors need to be taken into account. First, the change of the assistance needs in accordance with China's economic development. Second, we also have to bear in mind the rather critical view in Japan on Japan's ODA assistance to China. In recent years, as a result of Japan's implementation of ODA to China, in accordance with Japan's plan of economic cooperation with China, we have witnessed a rather large decrease in our ODA flow to China. We would like to implement ODA by taking into account the economic and social situation of China as well as the bilateral relations in a comprehensive manner in accordance with the new ODA Charter.

   Related Information (Japan-China Relations)
   
5. Question concerning Japan-China relations

   Q: Prime Minister Koizumi met with Premier Wen Jiabao of the Chinese State Council on the occasion of the ASEAN+3 Summit in Bali, Republic of Indonesia last week. According to the announcement by the Japanese side such as the description on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website, the two leaders referred to the mutual high-level visits of the two leaders-Prime Minister Koizumi's visit to China and Premier Wen's visit to Japan-whereas according to the announcement by a Chinese spokeswoman on 11 October, mutual high-level visits were not discussed. Could you comment on how this difference of views emerged on the explanations by the two countries about the same Japan-China summit talk?

   Mr. Okuyama: On the occasion of the ASEAN+3 Summit, Prime Minister Koizumi met Premier Wen at the fringe of the Leaders' Meeting. In the meeting, there was reference to Prime Minister Koizumi's visit to the People's Republic of China and also Premier Wen's visit to Japan.

   As I myself briefed the press in Bali, these high-level meetings were referred to in the talks between the two leaders. We hear reports from the Chinese side which seem to indicate that what I have just mentioned was not the case, but I have not ascertained what the Chinese press spokesperson actually said and what the background is of this seemingly contradictory statement on the part of China that has emerged. Therefore, I would like to refrain from commenting on what has been happening on the Chinese side.

   Related Information (Japan-China Relations)
   
6. Questions concerning informal meeting in Tokyo between Prime Minister Koizumi and visiting President George W. Bush of the United States

   Q: On a different topic, President George W. Bush of the United States is in Tokyo today. Could you give us some details, such as how long Prime Minister Koizumi and President Bush will meet? And could you run down the topics that they will discuss? Can we expect anything concrete especially since you will have another briefing here at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs tonight?

   Related to that, I assume that one item that they will discuss is the sending of Japanese Self-Defense Forces (SDF) to Iraq. Could you explain what the exact situation is at this moment? How far in are the preparations? In particular, why has it taken so long for a decision to be made whether to send the SDF although the law was passed a long time ago?

   Mr. Okuyama: For the itinerary, President and Mrs. Bush will arrive at Haneda Airport in Tokyo this afternoon. There will be a dinner from around 19:00 which we expect to last until about 21:00. There will be an informal, small meeting for about 30 minutes at the beginning of the two-hour dinner, probably from 19:00 until about 19:30. The dinner will be hosted by Prime Minister Koizumi and will take place at the Japanese Annex of the Akasaka Guest House. In this informal setting, Prime Minister Koizumi will have an exchange of views with President Bush.

   President Bush will leave early in the morning tomorrow to his next destination.

   Before I go on to specific topics, I might like to say a few words on how we view the significance of this visit. You might recall that this May at the summit talks in Crawford, Texas, Prime Minister Koizumi and President Bush agreed to strengthen the Japan-US alliance in the global context as the prime mover for Japan and the US to jointly solve various issues in the world in cooperation with the rest of the international community.

   Following the spirit of this agreement between the two, this time around, the leaders will reaffirm their commitment for the two countries to work together, not only on bilateral issues but also on broad international issues including the reconstruction of Iraq and issues relating to North Korea.

   The atmosphere this time is very relaxed, in an informal setting at the Japanese Annex, and Prime Minister Koizumi and President Bush through this exchange of views tonight, we hope will further strengthen their mutual relationship of trust which has been nurtured through a series of meetings including the most recent one at the private ranch of President Bush in Texas. We hope that they will further develop and strengthen cooperative relations between the two countries.

   There is no preset agenda as such and we cannot predict with accuracy what the two might feel like discussing. However, looking at the bilateral as well as the multilateral context in the recent months and years, we expect that Iraq, North Korea, and also Japan-US economic relations and possibly Japan-US security arrangements may be mentioned between the two leaders.

   On the dispatch of SDF and other personnel under the Law Concerning Special Measures on Humanitarian and Reconstruction Assistance to Iraq, what kind of remarks Prime Minister Koizumi may or may not make to President Bush is something we cannot really predict. However, I recall that on Wednesday, in his daily contact with the press as I watched on NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation), Prime Minister Koizumi said something along the lines that he would like to tell President Bush that the reconstruction of Iraq as a peaceful and democratic country is a direct concern to the national interest of Japan. Therefore, Japan would like to make an appropriate contribution on its own initiative.

   As for exactly where we are on the issue of possible dispatch of SDF to Iraq, we sent a government mission from 14 September to 9 October to study on the ground what the situation is. It was a rather lengthy visit and mission period. As I understand, since its return, the team is actually preparing a report. We would like to look into the findings of this government study team and will consider actively what can be done.

   What kind of activities, through what kind of personnel and in which areas we will assist in the humanitarian development and reconstruction of Iraq, is something that at this moment we cannot explain to you in specifics.

   Q: When do you expect this report to be finished?

   Mr. Okuyama: It is being prepared under the jurisdiction of the Prime Minister's Office. Basically, what we do know is that it takes time.

   Q: Generally speaking, do you think it will be weeks, months, years?

   Mr. Okuyama: The considerations should be made in an expeditious manner, but we hear no indication of when the actual submission of the report will take place.

   Q: To confirm, assuming from your statement, there will be no joint statement or press conference by the two leaders, will there?

   Mr. Okuyama: There will be no document because it is an informal meeting and no press conference is scheduled.

   Related Information (Japan's Assistance for the Reconstruction of Iraq)
   Related Information (Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's Visit to the United States and the Middle East)
   Related Information (Japan-The United States Relations)