Press Conference by the Deputy Press Secretary, 19 November 2009

Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi visits Japan
State Secretary for Foreign Affairs Tetsuro Fukuyama visits Afghanistan
Prof. Kuniko Ozaki elected to the ICC
Questions concerning State Secretary Tetsuro Fukuyama
Questions concerning the visit of Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi to Japan
Further questions concerning State Secretary Tetsuro Fukuyama
Questions concerning the kidnapping in Yemen
Questions concerning the US Special Envoy's visit to North Korea

I. Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi visits Japan

Deputy Press Secretary Yasuhisa Kawamura: Good afternoon. First, on Japan-China relations, this evening, Foreign Minister Okada will receive Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi.

Foreign Minister Yang visits Japan this time on the invitation of the Japanese Foreign Ministry and will stay until Sunday, the 22nd. During his stay, he will meet with his counterpart Minister Okada, tonight. He will also see Parliamentary leaders. He will make a weekend visit to Kyoto, and leave on Sunday, the 22nd.

This is the first visit by a Chinese foreign minister after the Japanese new administration was inaugurated in September. The two ministers are expected to solidify the mutually beneficial relationship based upon strategic interests through discussion on the current state and future prospects for bilateral relations, and cooperation to jointly address global issues.

II. State Secretary for Foreign Affairs Tetsuro Fukuyama visits Afghanistan

Mr. Kawamura: Second is Afghanistan. State Secretary for Foreign Affairs Tetsuro Fukuyama visited Afghanistan to attend the inauguration of President Karzai. The State Secretary paid a courtesy call on President Karzai yesterday, on the 18th. President Karzai expressed his appreciation for Japan's recently announced, new assistance program for Afghanistan of up to $5 billion. He said he would cope with challenges including the restoration of security, national reconstruction and good governance.

III. Prof. Kuniko Ozaki elected to the ICC

Mr. Kawamura: Lastly, we welcome Ms. Kuniko Ozaki, Professor at the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS) and special assistant to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was elected in the bi-election of the International Criminal Court by judges at The Hague on November 18th. Japan expects Professor Ozaki to participate even more actively in the practice of international criminal and human rights laws as an ICC judge.

Thank you, that is all from me. Can I invite your questions?

Related Information (Press Release)

IV. Questions concerning State Secretary Tetsuro Fukuyama

Q: Actually, it is not a question. I just want to know the exact name of Tetsuro...

Mr. Kawamura: Mr. Tetsuro Fukuyama.

Q: He is from the Ministry of Economy?

Mr. Kawamura: No, he is the State Secretary for Foreign Affairs. We have Foreign Minister Okada, and to support him, two State Secretaries are assigned.

V. Questions concerning the visit of Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi to Japan

Q: About the meeting between the Japanese and Chinese foreign ministers, could you elaborate more on what issues, specifically, they are going to talk about in relation to bilateral relations and global issues?

Mr. Kawamura: This is kind of a follow-up of a series of bilateral meetings. First, Mr. Okada met with Foreign Minister Yang in September in Shanghai in the context of the Japan-China-Korea trilateral foreign ministers meeting, and in October in Beijing on the occasion of the summit by the three leaders. I think this is kind of a continuation of discussions on various issues on the bilateral as well as global fronts.

As for the details of the agenda of the meetings, I think we have to wait up until this evening's meeting, and after the meeting, I am sure that we will, in one way or another, share information with you about what the result of the meeting is.

Q: Do you expect any breakthrough in the dispute over the East China Sea?

Mr. Kawamura: That issue hangs on, and both sides agree to expedite their efforts toward an appropriate landing. I think in that context, if that issue comes up, of course both ministers will make the best possible efforts toward that goal. At this particular moment, I cannot prejudge the result of the meeting.

VI. Further questions concerning State Secretary Tetsuro Fukuyama

Q: When was the visit of Mr. Tetsuro Fukuyama to Afghanistan?

Mr. Kawamura: Mr. Fukuyama is visiting there and yesterday, on the 18th, he paid a courtesy call on President Karzai. The State Secretary is in Afghanistan to attend the inauguration ceremony.

VII. Questions concerning the kidnapping in Yemen.

Q: Could you give us the latest situation about the Yemen kidnapping issue?

Mr. Kawamura: I cannot say much, but the Yemeni government continues to keep in contact with the group. We are hoping that we will have a safe and sound return of our abducted fellow citizen.

VIII. Questions concerning the US Special Envoy's visit to North Korea

Q: US President Obama has announced that US Special Envoy Stephen Bosworth will visit Pyongyang on December 8th. What is the Japanese response or reaction to that?

Mr. Kawamura: The bilateral discussions and contacts between the United States and North Korea have already been discussed between the leaders of our two countries, the US and Japan, including on the occasion of President Obama's recent visit to Japan.

We have received the explanation from the US side. This contact should be understood in the context of better management of the Six-Party Talks. In other words, this special envoy is going to this end in order to bring North Korea back to the table of the Six-Party Talks. That was clearly explained from the US side on this occasion. We understand that this contact would serve to the tentative goal of having North Korea return to the negotiation table of the Six-Party Talks. Japan's interest, I think, is well-understood by the US side as well.

Q: Did Mr. Obama explain that Mr. Bosworth is going to visit Pyongyang on December 8th, or was that also explained to Hatoyama during their meeting?

Mr. Kawamura: I do not think that that particular date was given, but the general policy goal and the intended direction of the US' contact with North Korea in the bilateral context was well explained.

Thank you very much. Have a good afternoon.

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