Press Conference by the Deputy Press Secretary, 4 November 2010

Results of CBD COP10
United States-Japan 2010 Joint Projects in APEC
Joint Statement of the Second Mekong-Japan Summit & Action Plan for "A Decade Toward The Green Mekong" Initiative
Japan-Viet Nam Joint Statement on the Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in Asia
Minister for Foreign Affairs Seiji Maehara Lodges Representations to Mr. Mikhail Bely, Russian Ambassador to Japan, Concerning the Visit to the Northern Territories by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev
Questions concerning Japan-Russo relations
Question concerning the security of the upcoming APEC Leaders' Meetings
Questions concerning the meeting of Japanese and Chinese Foreign Ministers in Hanoi and the cancellation of the scheduled leaders' meeting between Prime Minister Kan and Premier Wen
Question concerning the development of rare earth in Viet Nam
Follow-up question concerning the meeting of Japanese and Chinese Foreign Ministers in Hanoi and the cancellation of the scheduled leaders' meeting between Prime Minister Kan and Premier Wen
Question concerning a possible trilateral meeting between Japan, China and the United States
Question concerning the upcoming visit of President Obama to Japan
Question concerning the two nuclear power plants to be built in Viet Nam

Results of CBD COP10

Deputy Press Secretary Hidenobu Sobashima: Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen. Today I have distributed several documents. Let me explain these two sets of documents. The first is about the outcome documents of COP10 of the Convention on Biological Diversity. These are the advance unedited texts. Official texts may be ready later. The first text is the strategic plan for the post-2010 period. Let me draw your attention to the annex, particularly paragraph 12. We have targets, from target 1 to target 20. These 20 targets are a part of the decision. I would like to refrain from going into details. But we agreed on the post-2010 period targets. The second document is perhaps more complicated: The Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits arising from their Utilization. This is the title of the document. Again you have not only the main body but also annexes. In total these are the agreed documents. I refrain from going into the details, but as the host we were very pleased that the parties were able to adopt those outcome documents.

United States-Japan 2010 Joint Projects in APEC

Mr. Sobashima: The next set of documents - first you have the fact sheet for United States-Japan joint Projects in APEC. This was announced when Foreign Minister Maehara visited Honolulu before flying to Hanoi. This is only the fact sheet of the examples of the cooperation between the two countries in the context of APEC. Unfortunately there is no written material on the outline of the meeting of the foreign ministers' between Japan and the United States but let me orally very briefly explain. On 27 October local time in Hawaii, Foreign Minister Maehara and State Secretary Clinton had nearly two hours of meeting and they discussed various issues in order to deepen the alliance relationship. And the two ministers agreed that not only the security but also economy as well as cultural and human exchanges are important. The two countries already identified three areas, not only security but also economic relationship as well as cultural and human relationships as important areas for further deepening the alliance relationship and they confirmed this. On that occasion the two ministers discussed various issues but I will refrain from going into details. They attached importance on the forthcoming visit of President Obama to Japan on the occasion of the APEC Summit Meeting. Of course they had discussions as a preparation for President Obama's visit to Japan. On that occasion this fact sheet was issued as sort of a list of cooperation already made in the context of APEC.

Joint Statement of the Second Mekong-Japan Summit & Action Plan for "A Decade Toward The Green Mekong" Initiative

Mr. Sobashima: Then we distributed the Chairman's Statement of the ASEAN-Japan summit and also the Joint Statement of the Second Mekong-Japan Summit together with the Action Plan for "A Decade toward The Green Mekong" Initiative. Again I would like to refrain from explaining the details, but as usual Japan and ASEAN members as well as Mekong region countries reviewed the cooperation between Japan and ASEAN or Mekong countries and also renewed the commitment or intention to develop further cooperation between Japan on the one hand and ASEAN or Mekong countries on the other hand.

On concluding the participation in the multilateral meetings, Prime Minister Kan stated his satisfaction that he was able to have a useful discussion, particularly in the light of the growth strategy of Japan that has a relationship with ASEAN countries. Japan intends to assist ASEAN countries' growth and that, in return, would have a positive impact on Japan's growth. In that connection Prime Minister Kan was pleased that he was able to have a very fruitful discussion in the ASEAN related summit meetings.

Japan-Viet Nam Joint Statement on the Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in Asia

Mr. Sobashima: Then we have the paper entitled "Japan-Viet Nam Statement on the Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in Asia". Of course Prime Minister Kan and the Prime Minister of Viet Nam reviewed the cooperation between the two countries.

Please have a look at the second paragraph of the introduction part. It says that the two countries shared the strong intention to further develop in a stronger and more comprehensive manner the Strategic Partnership between Japan and Viet Nam for Peace and Prosperity in Asia. This is the overall sentiment between the two leaders.

I would like to draw your attention particularly to the section about "energy, natural resources, development and climate change." In the first paragraph, on page two, the fourth line from the bottom, the sentence says the two sides welcomed the successful conclusion of negotiations on the substance of Japan-Viet Nam Agreement on peaceful uses of nuclear energy, expecting that the two countries will sign the Agreement at the earliest possible date. We confirmed the conclusion of negotiations on the Agreement on the peaceful uses of nuclear energy between the two countries. The second sentence in the next paragraph says that the Vietnamese side affirmed that on the basis of examining the proposal from the Japanese side the Vietnamese Government had decided to choose Japan as the cooperation partner for building two reactors at the second nuclear power plant site in Nin Thuan Province, Viet Nam. So I would like to draw your attention to this.

Also, the next paragraph, starting with "The Vietnamese side highly appreciated Japan's cooperation in the area of mineral resources, coal, oil and natural gas, oil stockpiling, electricity, energy efficiency and conservation, clean energy development and ICT," it says that the two sides confirmed that both countries would promote cooperation for the development of the rare earths industry in Viet Nam. So among others, these are the two points the two leaders agreed on.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Seiji Maehara Lodges Representations to Mr. Mikhail Bely, Russian Ambassador to Japan, Concerning the Visit to the Northern Territories by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev

Mr. Sobashima: Finally we have a paper entitled "Minister for Foreign Affairs Seiji Maehara Lodges Representations to Mr. Mikhail Bely, Russian Ambassador to Japan, concerning the Visit to the Northern Territories by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev". On 1 November, that is Monday this week, Mr. Seiji Maehara, Minister for Foreign Affairs, summoned Mr. Mikhael Bely, Ambassador to Japan of the Russian Federation, to express his regret and lodged representations as outlined below concerning the visit to Kunashiri Island by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.

President Medvedev's visit to Kunashiri Island contradicts Japan's basic position and neglects the feelings of the Japanese people. It is extremely regrettable and Japan lodges a protest.
On 29 September, I, (that is Foreign Minister Maehara,) conveyed to you our concern that Russia's President's visit to the Northern Territories would deteriorate Japan-Russo relations.
Despite the expression of such concerns, President Medvedev visited Kunashiri Island this time, which raises doubt about the Russian government's stated intention to enhance its relationship with Japan.
The Government of Japan has no choice but to take appropriate action in response to President Medvedev's visit to the Northern Territories and the President's remarks and activities during the visit. I request you to convey this message to your government.

So this is the message that Foreign Minister Maehara conveyed to Ambassador Bely. I think you know that on the following day, that is 2 November, the Foreign Minister ordered the Japanese Ambassador in Moscow to come to Japan to explain the situation relating to this. In fact yesterday, Ambassador Kono had a meeting with Foreign Minister Maehara and the Ambassador explained the situation to the Minister.

So these are the topics, and as for the visits, on 6 November we will have the Finance Ministers' Meeting of APEC in Kyoto, and as you know we will have APEC Ministerial Meetings on 10 and 11 November in Yokohama, followed by the Summit Meeting on 13 and 14 November in Yokohama. We expect the leaders of APEC economies from various parts in Japan, including President Obama from the United States between 12 and 14 November. As for the Japanese senior officials' visit, I don't have new announcements to make but we are aware there will be the G20 summit on 11 and 12 November and the participation of the leaders of G20 is expected. These are the topics and information I would like to share today. Now I would like to invite your questions.

Questions concerning Japan-Russo relations

Q: I have a few questions concerning Russia. First, what are appropriate actions? Russian and Japanese trade is pretty limited so is this not the recall or the summoning of the Ambassador? Was that your appropriate action? What else are appropriate actions? Second question, last winter the Russian side, on select channels, tried to feed rather concrete new suggestions for compromises and the Russian side, as far as I know, didn't get any reply. Some of these were directly addressed at Mr. Hatoyama. So does the Japanese Government acknowledge that they just ignored the Russian ideas and now probably Russia is just giving up on a compromise? The third question is that in previous documents on the Kuril Islands, Russia and Japan always agreed that the attribution of these islands had to be solved. None of these documents said these islands would be attributed to Japan, it always says attribution, so why do you conclude that the islands should be attributed to Japan? Thank you.

Mr. Sobashima: Thank you for the questions. As for your first question, my answer is that the Government of Japan will consider what measures we will take after the Minister and Prime Minister perhaps, and other senior officials, listen to the explanation of Ambassador Kono. So this is the process. What we will do will be decided after consideration taking into account the explanation of the Ambassador. So that is my answer to your first question of what is the appropriate action.

For the second and third question, Japan's position is that all four sets of the islands in the Northern Territories are part of Japan. On this basis we would like to have negotiations. You mentioned former Prime Minister Hatoyama, but, the two governments had consultations. Therefore your report that the Russian side's proposals are unanswered is incorrect. We had consultations. However we are not in a position to explain to you the content. And this relates to your third question. Our position is all four sets of the islands belong to Japan. This is the starting point. Further than that I would like to refrain from commenting on the details of what sort of formulation we have endorsed or not endorsed. Thank you very much.

Q: I would like to stay on this topic if I may. Foreign Minister Lavrov of Russia yesterday mentioned that it is necessary to enhance the bilateral relationships between Japan and Russia and asked for Japan to do so. I know that both sides are trying to set up a meeting between President Medvedev and Prime Minister Kan at the APEC meeting in Yokohama. Is it a possibility that the two leaders can rule out the problems, and go on to enhance the relationship, to make it forgotten, for example if President Medvedev will not repeat such a visit? Is that a possibility to enhance the bilateral relationship between Japan and Russia?

Mr. Sobashima: Thank you for that question, I would like to refer to several points relating to your question. First, our basic position is that we intend to have the agreement on the territorial issue, including that we would like to conclude a peace treaty with the Russian Federation. In doing so we would like to further enhance the bilateral relationship; this is the basic position. This basic position remains regardless of what happened recently. This is the first point.

Secondly there is no decision, no conclusion yet about the bilateral meetings, so I would like to refrain from commenting on the assumption that there will be a leaders' meeting between the Russian Federation and Japan. Foreign Minister Maehara repeated what I said at the beginning, that as the basic position we intend to have the agreement on the territorial issue, we would like to conclude the peace-treaty, and we would like to further enhance the bilateral relationship between the two countries. Yesterday after hearing the reports from Ambassador Kono, when Minister Maehara was asked questions by journalists, he said that he understands that Foreign Minister Lavrov would be accompanying President Medvedev to Japan. As for him, he intends to have a Foreign Minister-level meeting with Foreign Minister Lavrov. On that occasion, if the meeting is arranged he intends to explain the Japanese position to him, he intends to exchange views on Japan-Russo relationship and he intends to have a discussion on the overall framework envisioning the further development of the relationship. So that is what he said. Although you asked the question in relation to the possible leaders' meeting, as I said there is no leaders' meeting arranged. On the other hand Foreign Minister Maehara expressed his willingness to have a talk with his counterpart, on the occasion of the APEC meetings.

Question concerning the security of the upcoming APEC Leaders' Meetings

Q: There have been press reports about these leaked security files and people are now worried that the security of the APEC meetings may be under threat. So what is your comment on this?

Mr. Sobashima: Yes we are concerned about those kinds of leaks but perhaps I am not in the best position to comment on your question. But, of course, I am also personally concerned with those leaks. However at the same time we hope that the authorities concerned will be prepared to maintain good security for the leaders and the dignitaries coming from overseas.

Questions concerning the meeting of Japanese and Chinese Foreign Ministers in Hanoi and the cancellation of the scheduled leaders' meeting between Prime Minister Kan and Premier Wen

Q: The Foreign Minister met not only the Foreign Minister of America but also the Foreign Minister of China in Hanoi on Friday, which you did not mention at all. After that meeting there was an AFP report saying that Japan and China had agreed on resuming on the common exploration of those gas fields and China reacted pretty angrily to this report which AFP withdrew later. First of all could you tell us what those Foreign Ministers talked about? They talked almost for two hours. Second, the first reason China gave for this sudden cancelling of the meeting between the Prime Ministers was that the Foreign Minister gave wrong statements, which obviously referred to this AFP report. On Monday the Chinese press said it was because of the rather unconventional style of Mr. Maehara as a Foreign Minister. What is the Government's understanding why this meeting between Prime Minister Kan and Premier Wen has been cancelled?

Mr. Sobashima: You are quite right. You have referred to several specific points. Immediately before the scheduled Summit Meeting, we heard from the Chinese side that the atmosphere is not good for having the Summit Meeting. The Chinese side stated that Japan was responsible for that. You referred to specific points and that misquotation or wrong report of some communication news agency was one of the reasons why. Anyway, without going into details, they said to us that the atmosphere was not good and that Japan was responsible. Then we noticed that wrong report and we have pointed out to the reporter "what you have reported is wrong." I think that the agency corrected the report. However, although we did not have a formal meeting, as you know, there was a short conversation between the two leaders.

As for the contents of the Foreign Ministers' meeting between Japan and China, the two Ministers discussed the various issues between the two countries and the two sides agreed that the two countries should promote a mutually beneficial relationship based on common strategic interests. The issues they discussed covered the issue of the East China Sea, however there was just a discussion, not a sort of agreement or the Chinese statement of some sort of decision, just discussion on the East China Sea. The other topics include the human exchanges between the two countries, and the issue of rare earths and the transportation between the two countries. Those are the bilateral issues but also the two Foreign Ministers discussed the issue of North Korea, for example. At the time of the conclusion of the Foreign Ministers' meeting, the two Foreign Ministers intended to report to their own Prime Ministers and they were preparing, at that time, for the leaders' meeting.

Q: Can I follow up? That meeting between the two Foreign Ministers was scheduled to last for half an hour and it lasted for over 80 minutes. Now there might be two possible reasons; either it was difficult or it was going so well, so which of the two reasons was responsible for this breach of schedule?

Mr. Sobashima: Maybe it is dangerous for me who was not on the spot to comment, but I hear from those present at the meeting that the meeting was cordial and constructive. Again at the time of the conclusion of the Foreign Ministers' meeting they were preparing for the leaders' meeting.

Q: Do you think there is hope for a Chinese-Japanese Summit Meeting at APEC?

Mr. Sobashima: I would like to repeat what I said in connection with the Prime Minister's possible meeting with the Russian President. Bilateral meetings are being considered but no arrangements have been made.

Question concerning the development of rare earth in Viet Nam

Q: I have another question concerning the rare earth. Now you have an agreement with Viet Nam. At what point would that become effective, at what point would Japan actually be able to get some rare earth material or is that something that would happen in the future, like in two, three or five years? Or would that happen very soon and could help if problems with China occur in that respect?

Mr. Sobashima: I don't know the time frame but Foreign Minister Maehara explained his view on various occasions that we should diversify the sources of supply, not only to Viet Nam but also other countries, perhaps India, perhaps Mongolia. And so our expectation is the joint efforts or cooperation for the exploration and development will bear fruit as soon as possible, but I don't have a specific time frame.

Follow-up question concerning the meeting of Japanese and Chinese Foreign Ministers in Hanoi and the cancellation of the scheduled leaders' meeting between Prime Minister Kan and Premier Wen

Q: Can I just go back to the meeting between Minister Maehara and the Chinese counterpart. When the Chinese side stated that the atmosphere was not good any more for a Summit Meeting, how did the Japanese side react? You mentioned this talk was cordial so why didn't you say that on the spot that you had the feeling that the atmosphere was quite good between the two Ministers?

Mr. Sobashima: As I said, immediately before the scheduled time of the two leaders' meeting the Chinese side stated that they wanted to have the meeting cancelled. So there was a time between the conclusion of the Foreign Ministers' meeting and the time when the Chinese side stated there should be no meeting. As I explained, the atmosphere is not the one for having the two leaders' meeting, the Chinese side said, and the Chinese said that Japan is responsible for that. And as you pointed out, some report was known to the world, and of course to the Chinese side also. There was a Japanese side briefing attended by that particular agency which you mentioned. So there was a time, I don't know exactly how many hours. As I said, cordial is some participants' explanation, I said as you asked, but in any event, Foreign Minister Maehara was reporting his meeting with his Chinese counterpart to Prime Minister Kan in the expectation that the leaders' meeting would take place. So my answer to your question is there was a time, and immediately after the conclusion of the Foreign Ministers' meeting we didn't expect the cancellation. Therefore the cancellation was a sort of surprise to us when we heard from the Chinese side.

Question concerning a possible trilateral meeting between Japan, China and the United States

Q: The same topic but a different approach. Hilary Clinton the State Secretary of the United States mentioned that there could be a trilateral meeting and the United States could somehow negotiate between Japan and China regarding the Senkaku Islands. Was this proposal made by the United States themselves or did they inform you before, that do you welcome such a proposal from the United States?

Mr. Sobashima: At this stage I have to check to what extent we made explanations about the meeting between the Foreign Ministers of Japan and the United States so I would like to refrain from commenting on that question of yours. But I know of course the reports and what was reported. As I said we are not able to explain all the details that were discussed between the two Ministers, so I would like to refrain from commenting now. However I will check again, and if there is a guidance to respond to that sort of question I will come back to you, but I'm sorry I don't have the guidance now.

Question concerning the upcoming visit of President Obama to Japan

Q: Just a technical question, will there be another briefing before President Obama's visit on his particular visit, or is that just within the APEC framework?

Mr. Sobashima: I'm afraid next Thursday's press conference will be canceled due to the unavailability of myself and even my replacement. So before President Obama's visit there will be no press conference from me but there may be some briefing arranged for foreign journalists as well, and I would like to check that. The final question perhaps?

Question concerning the two nuclear power plants to be built in Viet Nam

Q: Last question from my side, and a different topic again. In Viet Nam you successfully had an agreement about two nuclear power plants and there is the new joint body set up to promote by the Japanese State and the private companies here in Japan. To whom does this company report? Who is supervising this agency? Is it the ministry or is it a private organization?

Mr. Sobashima: I'm sorry I don't have the information at hand to correctly respond to you, but generally speaking the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, particularly its Natural Resources and Energy Agency, should be one of the responsible parts of the Government of Japan when it comes to nuclear energy production. But again, can I come back to you?

If there are no further questions, may I conclude the conference? Thank you very much for coming.

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