Japan-United States of America Relations
Courtesy Call on Prime Minister Shinzo Abe by U.S. Vice President Joe Biden
September 26, 2014
Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office
On September 26, commencing at 9:40 a.m. for approximately 40 minutes, Mr. Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan, during his visit to New York, received a courtesy call from Mr. Joe Biden, Vice President of the United States. An overview of the meeting is as follows:
1. Japan-U.S. relations
At the beginning, following greetings by both sides, Vice President Biden stated that Japan and the United States are enjoying close relationship which is beneficial for the world, and that Japan has a great presence in Asia.
In response, Prime Minister Abe stated that there are multitudes of issues worldwide that Japan and the United States should jointly respond including situations in the Middle East and Ukraine, and he highly appreciated the United States for leading a summit meeting on the United Nations Peacekeeping Operations (PKO) “Strengthening International Peace Operations”. Prime Minister Abe also stated that he is aware that there were good discussions in the Japan-U.S. foreign ministers’ meeting held on September 23, and he would like to address various issues through close coordination between Japan and the United States.
2. Japan-ROK relations, Japan-China relations
Vice President Biden appreciated Japan's recent efforts for the improvement of Japan-ROK relations and Japan-China relations.
In response, Prime Minister Abe introduced that Japan-ROK foreign ministers' meeting and Japan-China foreign ministers' exchange of opinions were held on the occasion of this United Nations General Assembly. On top of that, Prime Minister Abe stated that he had been making efforts for the improvement of Japan-ROK relations, adding that high-level political dialogues are required all the more because there exists difficult problems. He further stated that positive exchanges of opinions were held toward the improvement of relations in the Japan-ROK foreign ministers' meeting held on September 25, and he would like to deepen dialogues in the future as well. Moreover, Prime Minister Abe stated that he wishes to hold a Japan-China summit meeting on the occasion of the APEC Summit Meeting to be held in Beijing.
3. TPP
Regarding Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), touching on the ministerial meeting between Minister Amari and United States Trade Representative Ambassador Froman, Prime Minister Abe stated that both parties need to come closer with each other in order to bring the negotiations to a conclusion.
In response Vice President Biden expressed his basic understanding and stated that both Japan and the United States should understand that there were difficulties in the bilateral consultations between both countries, and make efforts to reach an agreement..
They confirmed that the top leaders of Japan and the United States would, under their leadership, give instructions to negotiators and continue with flexibility their efforts for an early conclusion of the TPP negotiations.