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2010/05/28
Mashiko and Fujita host discussions with Roos, Tong
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On May 28, the DPJ held a discussion concerning “Japan-US Cooperation on Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Promotion of Job Creation” with US Ambassador to Japan John V. Roos, and Economic Coordinator for the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, and US Senior Official for APEC, Kurt Tong. The meeting was hosted jointly by Senior Vice Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Teruhiko Mashiko, and DPJ International Department Director-General Yukihisa Fujita.
Mashiko said that METI and the US State Department had held their first meeting concerning innovation on the previous day. He said that Ambassador Roos shared the perception that it was important that politicians be involved in efforts to further Japan-US cooperation on this issue, and therefore it had been decided to utilize the opportunity of Tong’s visit to Japan to engage in these discussions. Mashiko emphasized the importance of continuing Japan-US relations in the economic field, saying, “It goes without saying that Japan-US relations will continue to be extremely important, but the next two years will be particularly significant, with Japan hosting the APEC meeting in November of this year, and the United States next year. I would like to make serious efforts while liaising closely with the United States.”
Roos expressed his high regard for the DPJ’s initiative, saying, “The governments of Japan and the United States have held bilateral discussions on a wide variety of issues in the past. However, as far as I am aware this is the first time that an opportunity has been provided in this fashion for senior administration officials from both countries to discuss this theme with a large number of Diet members.” He went on to express his enthusiasm for the meeting, saying, “As both Japan and the US seek to take full advantage of new chances in the rapidly changing global economic environment, I would like to emphasis the opportunity this provides for economic cooperation between Japan and the United States.”
During the discussion, participating Diet members were active in asking questions of Roos and Tong. At the end of the meeting, Mashiko asked for the cooperation of the Diet members in attendance, saying, “The APEC meeting gets underway at last in June in Sapporo with the Meeting of Ministers Responsible for Trade, and I would like to ask for your cooperation in a whole variety of ways to ensure that the APEC meeting in November is a success.”
Mashiko and Fujita suggested that it “would be desirable to continue to establish a regular forum for discussion between DPJ Diet members and the US Ambassador.” Roos responded positively, saying, “The US Embassy is close by, and I would be delighted to participate in further discussions, should there be such an opportunity. This is a chance for Japan to exercise leadership in this field.”
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