Aso, Obama to meet Feb. 24, strong Japan-U.S. ties reaffirmed+

TOKYO, Feb. 17 Kyodo - Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso and U.S. President Barack Obama will meet in
Washington on Feb. 24 for Obama's first talks with a foreign leader at the
White House since taking office, the nations' foreign ministers agreed Tuesday
in a move to further demonstrate the U.S. emphasis on their alliance.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, in Japan on her first overseas trip as
the chief U.S. diplomat, assured Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone of Japan's
importance in the Asian region and confirmed bilateral solidarity in pressing
for North Korea's denuclearization.
''The fact that the Japanese premier is the first to be invited (to the White
House) reflects the importance placed on Japan-U.S. relations,'' Nakasone said
in a joint press conference after the talks.
''I firmly believe this will be the perfect opportunity to show everyone that
the world's No. 1 and No. 2 economies are working together to tackle the
various difficult global issues including the economic situation,'' he added.
Clinton also agreed with Nakasone to reinforce cooperation on the global front
on such issues as terrorism in Afghanistan and Pakistan, energy and climate
change, nonproliferation, antipiracy, and the Middle East peace process.
''The alliance between the United States and Japan is a cornerstone of our
foreign policy,'' Clinton said, describing the ties as being ''strong'' and
''vibrant'' in an attempt to allay anxieties in Japan that Obama may favor
China instead.
''Working together to deal with the multitude of issues that affect not only
Asia but the entire world is a high priority of the Obama administration,'' she
said.
The two ministers shared expectations for China to play a ''constructive role''
in the international arena, while Clinton warned North Korea that a possible
missile launch that Pyongyang has been hinting at would be ''very unhelpful''
to efforts to move the denuclearization process forward.
Clinton's weeklong visit to Asia, which will also take her to Indonesia, South
Korea and China, comes amid recent bellicose rhetoric from North Korea and
signs that it is preparing to test-fire a long-range missile. Pyongyang
suggested Monday it would go ahead with the rocket launch for what it claims to
be ''space development.''
''We must advance our efforts to secure a complete and verifiable
denuclearization of North Korea,'' Clinton said, referring to a consensus with
Nakasone to press ahead with the six-party talks and to strengthen
collaboration to that end together with South Korea.
In response to Nakasone's request for understanding of Japan's position on
resolving the North's abductions of Japanese citizens, Clinton agreed that the
issue remains part of the six-party talks and should be part of the
''comprehensive engagement'' with North Korea.
''I am not worried that the United States will make significant changes to its
North Korea policy in the near future,'' Nakasone said, dismissing concerns
that the Obama administration may put aside the issue in negotiations with
Pyongyang as his predecessor President George W. Bush did.
To show that Washington will not neglect the abduction issue, a highly
sensitive subject in Japan, Clinton met with some family members of the missing
Japanese later Tuesday and told them she believes the issue should also be a
priority for the U.S. government.
Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura welcomed Clinton's approach as
''a step forward compared to the Bush administration'' and said he is hopeful
the matter will move forward.
On the bilateral security alliance, Clinton and Nakasone signed a new accord on
the sharing of costs for relocating 8,000 U.S. Marines and their families from
Okinawa to Guam. It commits both sides to realizing an earlier agreed-on road
map by 2014, aimed at reducing burdens on base-hosting communities while
maintaining deterrence.
''This agreement...reinforces the core of our alliance -- the mission to ensure
the defense of Japan against attack and to deter any attack by all necessary
means,'' Clinton said. ''It enshrines our two nations' shared contributions in
carrying out the realignment of our forces and the relocation of Marines from
Okinawa to Guam.''
Japan will shoulder $6.09 billion of the estimated $10.27 billion cost of
facilities and infrastructure development costs for the relocation, including
$2.8 billion in direct cash contributions.
On antiterrorism cooperation, Clinton commended Japan for its contributions so
far in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and promised high-level participation from the
United States at a donor conference on Pakistan expected to be held in Japan
next month.
In talks with Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada, Clinton expressed appreciation
for the Self-Defense Forces' support for U.S.-led missions in Iraq, around
Afghanistan, and antipiracy operations off Somalia.
Meanwhile, she also said she hopes to encourage ''more engagement'' by Japan in
peacekeeping operations within the limitations of the pacifist Constitution,
Defense Ministry officials said.
In joint efforts to address the global financial crisis, Clinton said at the
news conference the two nations are aware of their responsibilities to lead a
''coordinated global response'' and Nakasone added that both sides will also
work on reviving their respective economies.
The two allies hope to coordinate measures at the Aso-Obama talks next week
ahead of the financial summit to be held in London on April 2.
But while the United States hopes Japan will play a larger role in rebuilding
the world economy, it comes at a time when Japan is facing its worst economic
crisis since the end of World War II, with the economy contracting in the
fourth quarter of 2008 at the fastest pace in about 35 years.
Clinton's meeting with Nakasone also coincided with Finance Minister Shoichi
Nakagawa's announcement that he will resign, which will undoubtedly deal a
further blow to the government.
At the talks, Nakasone also reiterated Japan's disappointment at the ''Buy
American'' provision in the U.S. economic stimulus package, Japanese Foreign
Ministry officials said.
Clinton started the day with a visit to Tokyo's Meiji Jingu shrine to ''show
respect for the history and culture of Japan,'' she said to reporters at the
shrine.
Her agenda in Tokyo also includes talks separately with Aso and opposition
leader Ichiro Ozawa of the Democratic Party of Japan, whose camp could oust the
ruling coalition from power in a general election this year.
It is rare for a U.S. secretary of state to meet a Japanese opposition leader
on an official visit, a move observers say may stoke anxiety in the already
fragile Aso administration which is suffering falling support rates.
Apart from the official talks, Clinton, the first U.S. secretary of state to
make Japan the destination of her overseas debut, also took part in a dialogue
meeting with students at the University of Tokyo.
Clinton has previously visited the country four times, including in 1993 and
1996 when she accompanied her husband, then President Bill Clinton, as first
lady.
(Daisuke Yamamoto, Mie Sakamoto, Miya Tanaka and Takaki Tominaga also
contributed to this report)
==Kyodo