ID :
203065
Tue, 08/23/2011 - 18:37
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/203065
The shortlink copeid
Kan, Biden to push forward U.S. forces' realignment deal
TOKYO, Aug. 23 Kyodo - Prime Minister Naoto Kan and U.S. Vice President Joe Biden agreed Tuesday to move ahead with a bilateral accord on the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan and to cement the countries' alliance further in the wake of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami in northeastern Japan.
Their talks came amid the imminent resignation of Kan, who had been scheduled to make an official visit to the United States in September at the invitation of U.S. President Barack Obama.
''I am sorry for failing to fulfill my promise,'' the premier told Biden, adding he ''regrets'' that he could not visit the United States in his capacity as prime minister because of ''Japan's political situation,'' according to a Japanese official.
Kan, who has been struggling with low public support ratings, has said he will step down from office once parliament passes three key bills -- the second extra budget which was approved in July and two others set to clear the Diet in the coming days.
At the start of their talks, which was open to the press, Kan reiterated his country's gratitude for the ''enormous assistance'' of the United States and assured Biden that Japan's economy and tourism industry were back to normal.
Kan voiced hope that the U.S. vice president's visit would be a ''good chance to demonstrate to the world that Japan is open for business.''
Their nations, being Pacific powers, are allies, and Japan would certainly come to the aid of the United States if a similar disaster occurred, Biden said in response to the expression of gratitude for U.S. forces' relief work under ''Operation Tomodachi'' launched immediately after the natural disasters.
''Our only regret is that we could not do even more,'' Biden said during the talks at the premier's office.
Biden told reporters after their hourlong meeting, ''We are absolutely confident that Japan will rebound stronger, literally stronger than before the devastation.''
The U.S. vice president said critics should not discount Tokyo and Washington as being unable to overcome their problems, referring to the March catastrophe in Japan and the budget problems in the United States.
''There are voices in the world who are counting us out,'' he said. ''They are making a very bad bet.''
On other key topics, Kan and Biden reaffirmed that the two sides will adhere to the realignment agreement, which includes the relocation of a key U.S. Marine base within Okinawa Prefecture, the official said.
There was no in-depth discussion, however, of how to move the deal forward given Kan's looming resignation. A senior Foreign Ministry official said it was not possible for the premier to engage in deeper discussions as pending issues will be handled by the new administration.
Beyond bilateral concerns, Kan said Japan will continue cooperating with the United States and South Korea on the North Korean nuclear issue, and called for the North to take concrete actions to resolve it, according to the official.
Kan thanked the United States for its ''strong support'' in resolving Pyongyang's past abductions of Japanese nationals and asked for Washington's continued backing on the issue.
Kan also told Biden the government will make a ''decision as soon as possible'' on whether it will join negotiations for a U.S.-led Pacific free trade accord.
China was discussed as well, with Biden describing his talks with Chinese leaders during his trip there ahead of Japan as an opportunity to deepen U.S.-China ties, the official said. Kan, meanwhile, said Japan's relations with China are on track to improvement.
After meeting Kan, Biden headed to Sendai for an afternoon trip, making him the highest-ranking U.S. official to travel to the disaster-hit northeast.
Addressing a 200-strong audience at Sendai airport, where U.S. forces conducted their relief work, Biden said it was an honor for the U.S. forces to work with Japan's Self-Defense Forces on relief operations and that quickly opening the tsunami-damaged airport was a significant step forward in reconstruction efforts.
Biden arrived in Japan on Monday for a three-day visit after traveling to China and Mongolia. He is the first U.S. vice president to visit Japan since Dick Cheney in February 2007.
Their talks came amid the imminent resignation of Kan, who had been scheduled to make an official visit to the United States in September at the invitation of U.S. President Barack Obama.
''I am sorry for failing to fulfill my promise,'' the premier told Biden, adding he ''regrets'' that he could not visit the United States in his capacity as prime minister because of ''Japan's political situation,'' according to a Japanese official.
Kan, who has been struggling with low public support ratings, has said he will step down from office once parliament passes three key bills -- the second extra budget which was approved in July and two others set to clear the Diet in the coming days.
At the start of their talks, which was open to the press, Kan reiterated his country's gratitude for the ''enormous assistance'' of the United States and assured Biden that Japan's economy and tourism industry were back to normal.
Kan voiced hope that the U.S. vice president's visit would be a ''good chance to demonstrate to the world that Japan is open for business.''
Their nations, being Pacific powers, are allies, and Japan would certainly come to the aid of the United States if a similar disaster occurred, Biden said in response to the expression of gratitude for U.S. forces' relief work under ''Operation Tomodachi'' launched immediately after the natural disasters.
''Our only regret is that we could not do even more,'' Biden said during the talks at the premier's office.
Biden told reporters after their hourlong meeting, ''We are absolutely confident that Japan will rebound stronger, literally stronger than before the devastation.''
The U.S. vice president said critics should not discount Tokyo and Washington as being unable to overcome their problems, referring to the March catastrophe in Japan and the budget problems in the United States.
''There are voices in the world who are counting us out,'' he said. ''They are making a very bad bet.''
On other key topics, Kan and Biden reaffirmed that the two sides will adhere to the realignment agreement, which includes the relocation of a key U.S. Marine base within Okinawa Prefecture, the official said.
There was no in-depth discussion, however, of how to move the deal forward given Kan's looming resignation. A senior Foreign Ministry official said it was not possible for the premier to engage in deeper discussions as pending issues will be handled by the new administration.
Beyond bilateral concerns, Kan said Japan will continue cooperating with the United States and South Korea on the North Korean nuclear issue, and called for the North to take concrete actions to resolve it, according to the official.
Kan thanked the United States for its ''strong support'' in resolving Pyongyang's past abductions of Japanese nationals and asked for Washington's continued backing on the issue.
Kan also told Biden the government will make a ''decision as soon as possible'' on whether it will join negotiations for a U.S.-led Pacific free trade accord.
China was discussed as well, with Biden describing his talks with Chinese leaders during his trip there ahead of Japan as an opportunity to deepen U.S.-China ties, the official said. Kan, meanwhile, said Japan's relations with China are on track to improvement.
After meeting Kan, Biden headed to Sendai for an afternoon trip, making him the highest-ranking U.S. official to travel to the disaster-hit northeast.
Addressing a 200-strong audience at Sendai airport, where U.S. forces conducted their relief work, Biden said it was an honor for the U.S. forces to work with Japan's Self-Defense Forces on relief operations and that quickly opening the tsunami-damaged airport was a significant step forward in reconstruction efforts.
Biden arrived in Japan on Monday for a three-day visit after traveling to China and Mongolia. He is the first U.S. vice president to visit Japan since Dick Cheney in February 2007.
