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On October 7, DPJ Secretary General Yukio Edano met with Daniel Russel, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, at party Headquarters.
At the outset of the meeting, Edano welcomed Russel’s visit and stated “The Japan – U.S. relationship is vitally important. When I was serving as Chief Cabinet Secretary at the time of the Great East Japan Earthquake, the United States supported Japan in our darkest hour through Operation ‘Tomodachi’, and other assistance. Let me express my sincerest gratitude to you once again”.
Russel responded, “Thank you for your strong support for the Alliance. We worked closely together in the best interest of our two countries when the DPJ was the ruling party, and in keeping with the spirit of democracy, we also seek to work together with the DPJ in opposition”.
The two sides also exchanged views on various issues such as economic policy, the Trans-Pacific Partnership Treaty (TPP), and the right to collective self-defense.
The meeting was also attended by DPJ Policy Research Committee Chair Tetsuro Fukuyama, and International Department Director-General Yukihisa Fujita.
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