Press Conference, 7 September 2007

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Minister for Foreign Affairs Nobutaka Machimura to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting
Meetings of Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Hitoshi Kimura
Visit to Japan by Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Committee Jia Qinglin
Question concerning recent events in the Republic of Lebanon
Question concerning the visit to Japan by Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Jia Qinglin
Question concerning a possible meeting between Mr. Jia Qinglin and Prime Minister Abe, Secretary General of the Liberal Democratic Party Taro Aso, and Foreign Minister Machimura
Question concerning the attendance of Prime Minister Abe at the upcoming World Chinese Entrepreneurs Convention to be held in Kobe

I. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Minister for Foreign Affairs Nobutaka Machimura to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting

Deputy Press Secretary Tomohiko Taniguchi: Good afternoon, thanks very much for coming.

I have two main points to introduce for my opening statement. They are regarding the APEC meetings and the meetings of Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Hitoshi Kimura.

Firstly, today, Friday, 7 September, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is joining Minister for Foreign Affairs Nobutaka Machimura in Sydney, Australia, to attend the 15th APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) Economic Leaders' Meeting to be held for two days from tomorrow, Saturday, 8 September to Sunday, 9 September.

In addition to participating in this Leaders' Meeting, Prime Minister Abe will meet with President George Bush of the United States of America and Prime Minister John Howard of the Commonwealth of Australia at the Japan-US-Australia breakfast meeting. This meeting would be the first of its kind, and the three leaders will address shared issues of strategic importance that affect the region such as "Climate Change" and "Human Security."

Prime Minister Abe is also going to have a bilateral meeting again with Mr. John Howard, Prime Minister of Australia and another with Mr. Felipe Calderón Hinojosa, President of the United Mexican States.

As for Foreign Minister Machimura, so far, he has held 6 bilateral talks with the participating ministers from Australia, the Republic of Singapore, New Zealand, Canada, the Republic of Korea and the People's Republic of China. Also, this afternoon around 16:00, Friday, 7 September, Japan Time, Mr. Machimura is scheduled to meet Ms. Condoleezza Rice, Secretary of State of the United States.

With Mr. Downer, Australian Foreign Minister, Mr. Machimura discussed security issues, the Japan-Australia EPA (Economic Partnership Agreement), the Japanese Law on Anti-Terrorism Special Measures, and climate change issues.

At the Japan-Singapore Foreign Ministers' meeting, the two ministers talked about security issues in East Asia, UN reform, and the fight against terrorism.

The topics of the Japan-New Zealand bilateral talk were cooperation between the two countries in the field of economy, security, and climate change and energy.

At the Japan-Canada bilateral meeting, the two foreign ministers discussed the fight against terrorism, UN reform, climate change and African issues.

With the Korean Foreign Minister, Mr. Machimura addressed dialogue/exchange between the two nations, maritime issues, and North Korea.

Among the 6 ministers, Mr. Machimura spent the longest time with his Chinese colleague and covered a wide range of issues including the human exchange of VIPs, the development of natural resources in the East China Sea, environment/climate change, UN reform, security, cooperation in the field of criminal justice, Taiwan, and North Korea.

II. Meetings of Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Hitoshi Kimura

Mr. Taniguchi: Secondly, yesterday, 6 September, Mr. Hitoshi Kimura, Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, met with Mr. Atul Khare, Special Representative for the U.N. Secretary-General to Timor-Leste and Head of the United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT).

Related Information (Press Release)

This morning, Friday, 7 September, Mr. Kimura, also met 37 Chinese high school students who came to Japan last Tuesday, 4 September on the invitation of the Japan-China 21st Century Friendship Program, otherwise known as "Heart to Heart".

Tomorrow, 8 September, these high school students will be sent to 24 different prefectures and spend the next 11 months -- some of them in school dormitories and others at host-families' homes, from up north in Hokkaido to down south in Okinawa -- going to local high schools.

III. Visit to Japan by Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Committee Jia Qinglin

Mr. Taniguchi: One last item is the announcement that Mr. Jia Qinglin, Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, is going to visit Japan on the invitation of the Japanese Government from Wednesday 12 September to Tuesday 18 September.

IV. Question concerning recent events in the Republic of Lebanon

Q: Do you have any comment to make regarding what has happened in Lebanon in the past few days?

Mr. Taniguchi: The Japanese Government has been concerned about the developments and given the importance of Lebanon one should hope very much that the situation is going to be stabilized, and also that this will do no harm to the already slowed Middle East Peace Process.

V. Question concerning the visit to Japan by Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Jia Qinglin

Q: Do you have any details of the schedule for the planned visit of Mr. Jia Qinglin, Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

Mr. Taniguchi: The two main items on his itinerary are to attend the 9th World Chinese Entrepreneurs Convention and also he will be meeting with Prime Minister Abe. However, it is not yet possible to announce the detailed schedule for his visit.

VI. Question concerning a possible meeting between Mr. Jia Qinglin and Prime Minister Abe, Secretary General of the Liberal Democratic Party Taro Aso, and Foreign Minister Machimura

Q: Can you possibly confirm that Mr. Jia Qinglin will be meeting Prime Minister Abe, Secretary General of the Liberal Democratic Party Taro Aso, and Foreign Minister Machimura? Do you know of the reason or plan for their meeting?

Mr. Taniguchi: I am unable to make any announcement regarding that matter.

VII. Question concerning the attendance of Prime Minister Abe at the upcoming World Chinese Entrepreneurs Convention to be held in Kobe

Q: Will Prime Minister Abe be making himself available for the upcoming World Chinese Entrepreneurs Convention to be held in Kobe, given the precedent that national leaders attended this conference when it was held in other countries such as Malaysia and the Republic of Korea?

Mr. Taniguchi: I am not aware whether he will make himself available or not.

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