Press Conference 28 March 2006
- Signing ceremony of the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF)
- Visit to Japan of H.E. Paul Biya the President of the Republic of Cameroon and Mrs. Biya
- Central Asia plus Japan Intellectual Dialogue
- Sixth joint consultative committee and the third joint study for enhancing economic relations between Japan and Australia
- Japan-US working level meeting on security issues
- Debt relief in the form of rescheduling to the Republic of Kenya
- Two-step-loan project for small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) development and environmental protection to Mongolia
- Yen loan to Iraq for irrigation projects
- Follow-up questions concerning yen loan to Iraq
- Question concerning up-coming visit to Japan by Royal Highness Crown Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
- Signing ceremony of the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF)
Assistant Press Secretary Akira Chiba: Good morning and thank you very much for coming to this briefing. I would like to start with a couple of announcements; then I will be happy to take your questions.
First, what has been happening and what will happen in Tokyo during the course of this week.
On 27 March 2006, the signing ceremony to establish the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF) was held in Tokyo at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) of Japan. Minister for Foreign Affairs Taro Aso of Japan and H. E. Ambassador to Japan Datuk Marzuki Mohammad Noor of Malaysia, as the representative to all 10 Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN) countries, signed the documents to establish the new fund, to which Japan pledged to contribute 7.5 billion yen (approximately US$70 million). Ambassadors and other representatives from other ASEAN member countries were also present at the ceremony.
ASEAN countries set the year 2020 as the target for realizing the ASEAN Community and are exerting their efforts for internal integration. ASEAN has also become the "driver" of the East Asia cooperation. A flourished and unified ASEAN is beneficial not only for ASEAN but for the entire region. With this as a background, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi announced on 13 December 2005, that Japan would provide financial assistance in the amount of 7.5 billion yen to support the integration of ASEAN through the ASEAN-Japan cooperation fund. Since then, Japan and ASEAN have been working towards establishing a new fund by enacting necessary rules and procedures.
Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF) is expected to strengthen ASEAN-Japan relations by implementing various projects such as stockpiling half a million courses of Tami flu in the area of avian influenza, projects in the area of counter-terrorism, economic integration, youth exchanges, and so forth.
- Visit to Japan of H.E. Paul Biya the President of the Republic of Cameroon and Mrs. Biya
Mr. Chiba: Next is an announcement concerning a visit of a dignitary to Japan. H. E. Paul Biya, the President of the Republic of Cameroon, and Mrs. Biya, accompanied by a suite, will pay an official working visit to Japan from 16 to 20 April 2006.
During their stay in Japan, the President and Mrs. Biya will make a state call on Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan, and Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress will host a Court Luncheon in honor of the President and Mrs. Biya.
The President will also hold a meeting with Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi of Japan.
The Government of Japan sincerely welcomes the visit of the President and Mrs. Biya, which will further strengthen the friendly relations between Japan and the Republic of Cameroon.
- Central Asia plus Japan Intellectual Dialogue
Mr. Chiba: Concerning another event taking place in Tokyo, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, cooperating with the National Institute for Research Advancement (NIRA), will hold the "Central Asia plus Japan" Intellectual Dialogue (Tokyo Dialogue) on 30 March (Thu).
The intellectual dialogue is one of the five pillars of cooperation in the framework of the "Central Asia plus Japan" dialogue, which was launched at the time of the visit to Central Asia by then Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi in August 2004. The dialogue expands the width of the intellectual exchange between Central Asia and Japan, and it aims to obtain a proposal for talks on a governmental level.
Specialists from the Central Asian countries (the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Republic of Tajikistan, and the Republic of Uzbekistan) and Japan will attend this dialogue. They are expected to exchange views on the themes of the "Prospects for Regional Integration in Central Asia" and the "Relations between Central Asia and Countries Outside the Region." At an opening session, Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Yasuhisa Shiozaki will make a speech as the representative of the host concerning Japan's policy toward Central Asia and expectations of this Tokyo Dialogue. - Sixth joint consultative committee and the third joint study for enhancing economic relations between Japan and Australia
Mr. Chiba: The sixth joint consultative committee between Japan and Australia and the third joint study for enhancing economic relations between Japan and Australia, including the feasibility and pros and cons of a free trade agreement (FTA), will be held from the 28 to 30 March in Tokyo.
At the sixth joint consultative committee between Japan and Australia, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Mitoji Yabunaka will attend and Deputy Secretary Geoff Raby of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Commonwealth of Australia will co-chair. Members of Ministries concerned will also take part in this committee.
This committee is based on the Japan-Australia trade and economic framework agreement, signed between Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi of Japan and Prime Minister John Howard of Australia.
At this meeting, opinions and information will be exchanged concerning the joint study for enhancing economic relations between Japan and Australia and measures to facilitate trade and investment between the two countries.
- Japan-US working level meeting on security issues
Mr. Chiba: Concerning an event taking place elsewhere, the Japan-US working level meeting on security issues will be held in Washington, D.C. on 30 and 31 March.
The Japanese side will be led by Deputy Director-General Kazuyoshi Umemoto of the North America Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Deputy Director-General Hironori Kanazawa of the Defense Policy Bureau, Japan Defense Agency. The US side will be led by Deputy Under-Secretary of Defense Richard Lawless.
In the meeting, there will be an exchange of views concerning recommendations on the realignment set out at the Japan-US Security Consultative Committee (2+2 meeting) on 29 October 2005.
- Debt relief in the form of rescheduling to the Republic of Kenya
Mr. Chiba: Now the regular announcements concerning Japanese official development assistance (ODA) to various parts of the world.
First, I would like to announce debt relief in the form of rescheduling to the Republic of Kenya. Based on the agreement at the Paris Club concerning the implementation of debt relief measures to the Republic of Kenya, the Government of Japan as a result of the negotiations with the Kenyan Government, has agreed on the conditions of the debt relief.
The exchange of notes took place between the two governments on 24 March in Nairobi, between Ambassador Satoru Miyamura of Japan to Kenya and Financial Secretary Mutua Kilaka of the Ministry of Finance of Kenya.
It is the third time that Japan implements debt relief to Kenya, the last time being in 2001.
- Two-step-loan project for small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) development and environmental protection to Mongolia
Mr. Chiba: A two-step-loan project for SMEs developments and environmental protection will be extended to Mongolia. The signing ceremony will be held on 28 March between Minister of Finance Nadmidyn Bayartsaikhan of Mongolia and Japanese Ambassador Yasuyoshi Ichihashi to Mongolia. The signing ceremony will be held on the occasion of the visit to Japan of H.E. Nambaryn Enkhbayar the Prime Minister of Mongolia. The project will amount up to almost 3 billion yen (approximately US$25 million).
This project is to furnish SMEs in the country with long-term funds, to perform capacity building for medium financial institutions and small businesses, and to promote projects concerning the environment.
- Yen loan to Iraq for irrigation projects
Mr. Chiba: An announcement was made today to extend a yen loan to Iraq. The project concerned is called the Port Sector Rehabilitation Project and Irrigation Sector Loan. Another one is the Al-Mussaib Thermal Power Plant Rehabilitation project. The total will amount to 76 billion yen (approximately US$660 million). The actual signing ceremony will take place after the new government is established in Iraq.
- Follow-up questions concerning yen loan to Iraq
Q: Concerning the yen loan to Iraq, I understand that the Al Muthanna Province is part of the project but I also understand that Samawah is not. Is there a reason why Samawah is not included?
Mr. Chiba: The project concerns irrigation and evidently the project is based on the needs on the ground. As I do not have details as to which part of the Governorate of Al-Muthanna will be covered by the aid projects, my understanding is that the project is based on the actual needs.
Q: Does the Foreign Ministry have any concerns that the projects might be delayed? You mentioned that the signing will take place after the formation of the Iraqi Government and it seems that there are difficulties in forming a new Iraqi Government at the moment. How does the Ministry of Foreign Affairs see this situation?
Mr. Chiba: We see that there have been positive developments taking place in Iraq recently and we are confident that the Iraqi people can come up with their own government at an early date. We look forward to being able to sign the exchange of notes in due course.
Q: So these projects will be based on the actual needs of the people? It is not related to the Japanese Government's desire to shift reconstruction from Japan's self-defense force (SDF) contribution to more of a civilian contribution?
Mr. Chiba: It has always been the hope of the Japanese Government that we can contribute to the reconstruction of Iraq through civilian means, with the yen loan included. Our contribution through the SDF is another matter which we are seriously undertaking and these obviously are, as we say, "two wheels of the same cart."
- Question concerning up-coming visit to Japan by Royal Highness Crown Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Q: Could you make a brief comment about the visit to Japan by Royal Highness Crown Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud of Saudi Arabia?
Mr. Chiba: Royal Highness Crown Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will pay an official visit to Japan from 5 to 7 April 2006.
During his stay in Japan His Royal Highness will have an imperial audience with His Majesty the Emperor of Japan and His Majesty the Emperor will host a court luncheon in honor of His Royal Highness.
His Royal Highness will also hold a meeting with Prime Minister Koizumi of Japan.
The Government of Japan sincerely welcomes the visit of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which will further strengthen the friendly relations between Japan and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
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