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On November 30, DPJ Secretary General Katsuya Okada met with United Nations Development Programme Administrator, former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clarke, inside the Diet building and discussed a variety of topics. The meeting was also attended by Administration Committee Chair Makoto Taki and International Department Director-General, former Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs Chinami Nishimura.
At the start of the meeting, Okada welcomed Clarke. He said that although his official title had changed from Minister for Foreign Affairs to Secretary General, he still maintained a keen interest in international issues, and added, “I am happy to have the opportunity to hold discussions with you.”
Clarke, who had met with both Okada and Nishimura when they were at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, commented with a smile, “It seems as if the team at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has moved to become the Secretary General’s team.”
Okada recalled that the first time they had met was at the Residence of the New Zealand Ambassador to Japan in 2005. He added, “Today I am looking forward to hearing what you have to say, and to discussing whether there is anything we can do to cooperate with you.” Clarke once more expressed her gratitude for the efforts Okada had made to forge a relationship with the UNDP during his time in office as Minister for Foreign Affairs.
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