Press Conferences

Ukai, TV Tokyo: You have mentioned an interest in visiting China for some time. Has there been any progress in the coordination of a visit to China? Also, is there a possibility of visiting Southeast Asia at the same time?

Mr. Fumio Kishida, Minister for Foreign Affairs: Regarding the visit to China, I had spoken about visiting China around this spring, and coordination between China and Japan is continuing at this point. However, nothing specific has been decided at this point. There also has not been any decision related to visiting Southeast Asia.

Ukai, TV Tokyo: Is the coordination of a visit to China making progress?

Minister Kishida: The coordination is still taking place. We would like to continue to put firm efforts into the coordination.

Ukai, TV Tokyo: It is almost just one week until the Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. Can you indicate the situation regarding the coordination of visits by Foreign Ministers from the various countries to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park or Memorial Museum?

Minister Kishida: Coordination efforts are continuing for related events and schedules. Visits to the Peace Memorial Park or Memorial Museum are also being coordinated. I believe it is very important for political leaders to witness with their own eyes the realities of the atomic bombings, and we are engaged in the coordination with this in mind.

Odanaka, Mainichi Shimbun: You spoke about issuing a Hiroshima Declaration on nuclear disarmament at the Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in some media interviews. Please explain again the significance and aim and the type of message you hope to send.

Minister Kishida: I hope that we can issue a separate document as the Hiroshima Declaration at the G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. Given the situation at last year’s NPT Review Conference, I feel that momentum toward the realization of “a world free of nuclear weapons” has withered. Additionally, North Korea’s nuclear weapons test and other recent activities pose a challenge to the global nuclear non-proliferation regime. I think it is precisely at this timing when it is very important to send a clear message on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation through the G7 framework that includes nuclear-weapon states and non-nuclear-weapon states.

I hope we can develop a message that revitalizes the international momentum and relaunches initiatives for “a world free of nuclear weapons.” While the specific content is still being finalized, we are aiming for a simple, clear, and strong message.

Ukai, TV Tokyo: Today is the start of a new fiscal year. While the House of Councilors election is obviously taking place in fiscal 2016, there is also extensive discussion of the possibility of a House of Representatives election too. Some voices from the Kouchikai that you chair are asking for more active comments from you as chairman. In fiscal 2016, what type of sentiment will you be bringing to your statements? Could you speak as Kouchikai chairman?

Minister Kishida: It is a new fiscal year. However, the National Diet still has important issues to discuss, including the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement, and we need to continue moving forward with a sense of vigilance until the completion of the current session on June 1. The House of Councilors election is scheduled after that. I think it is important to proceed with a sense of vigilance on policies as well as political developments. I hope that these efforts in the National Diet and the House of Councilors election will obtain the support and understanding of the Japanese people for the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan and its individual National Diet members, and I believe it is important to continue these efforts.

Kawauchi, Kyodo Press: Japan, the United States, and the Republic of Korea held a summit meeting yesterday and agreed to strengthen collaboration to halt North Korea’s nuclear weapon and missile developments. Please explain your assessment of this meeting and thoughts.

Minister Kishida: I have been told that the three countries discussed regional situation, including North Korea, as well as global topics such as climate change and Vice President of the United States, Mr. Joseph Biden’s initiative to eliminate cancer. I think this was a well-timed and valuable meeting since the three countries had firm mutual communication on issues including the North Korea issue at this timing. The three countries discussed security and other matters, besides the ones I just mentioned as well. We would like to firmly continue such collaboration by the three countries in the future also.