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[Provisional Translation]

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe attended the 25th Anniversary Reception of the Japan Foundation Center for Global Partnership and the Abe Fellowship, held in Tokyo.

The Prime Minister said in his address,

“In such a short time, we have reached the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Japan Foundation Center for Global Partnership and the Abe Fellowship. I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to everyone for your unstinting efforts during this period.

I am delighted that I am able to celebrate the event here today with so many of you.

My mother, who is 88 years old, is also in attendance today. I felt concerned as to whether or not my mother would make a good speech, just as she no doubt is now concerned as to whether or not I will make a good speech.

My father, former Foreign Minister Shintaro Abe, went to the United States in June 1990 as a special government envoy to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the revision of the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty. I accompanied him, and on that occasion, my father expressed the idea of creating such an organization, and that was the start of the Japan Foundation Center for Global Partnership. 

At the time, the Berlin Wall had already come down, and the solidarity of the countries on the Western side, including Japan and the United States, was putting an end to the Cold War between the Eastern and Western blocs. Meanwhile, however, trade friction between Japan and the United States continued, and our bilateral consultations reached a point where we were no longer discussing merely individual issues, but were even touching on the very economic structures of both our countries. Moreover, it was a period when the seeds of concern were steadily growing in the Gulf region of the Middle East. 

In 1960, my grandfather, former Prime Minister Nobusuke Kishi, revised the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty, although many people at the time were against it. He said, “In 50 years’ time, this will definitely be supported and understood.” Far from having to wait for 50 years, now, 30 years on, the Japan-U.S. Alliance has already gained the support of most of the people.

Nevertheless, besides the historical background at the time, it is true that there was also a certain skepticism in regard to the Japan-U.S. Alliance, and momentum was steadily growing for it to be reviewed.

I believe that precisely because of these conditions at the time, my father was convinced that Japan-U.S. cooperation should be strengthened. My father felt that by cultivating a knowledge-based network between Japan and the United States, which would pave the way for the future, our two countries should together lead efforts to resolve global issues. Believing this, my father devoted himself wholeheartedly to the establishment of the Japan Foundation Center for Global Partnership.

However, establishing the center was not at all an easy matter. At the time, my father was already suffering from illness, but he truly showed great tenacity in achieving its establishment.

In the past, as now, the Ministry of Finance was and is extremely strict. I remember that my father telephoned the ministry many, many times from the hospital, saying things like, “It isn’t much so why can’t you just make this amount of money available?” sometimes with a raised voice.

Then, finally, my father would call his friend, former Prime Minister Noboru Takeshita, and by obtaining his approval and cooperation, my father was thus able to establish the Japan Foundation Center for Global Partnership.

Of course, he also received the cooperation of others such as U.S. Congress leaders, in particular, former U.S. Secretary of State George Schulz. Then, in April 1991, the Japan Foundation Center for Global Partnership came into being. My father, having seen this achievement for himself, passed away one month later.

It is now 25 years later, and the center has fostered almost 400 Fellows. I am sure my father is watching over our celebration today with a smile on his face.

However, I am also sure he had no idea that I would be standing here today as Prime Minister myself.

Ever since I have devoted myself to politics, I too have always placed the greatest priority on Japan’s relationship with the United States. In April last year, I gave a speech at a joint session of the United States Congress, the first time for a Prime Minister of Japan to do so. In May this year, following on from the success of the Ise-Shima Summit, we were able to realize a visit by President Barack Obama to Hiroshima.

For the Japan Foundation Center for Global Partnership, this is a wonderful day. Its activities, which were aimed at the future of Japan-U.S. relations, have clearly been firmly in line with the trend of the times.

The Japan-U.S. Alliance has remained robust for over a quarter of the entire history of the United States, and is held together by deep trust and friendship. As my father predicted, the Japan-U.S. Alliance has become an alliance of the future and of hope. The number of issues that Japan and the United States must tackle together by combining our strengths will most likely increase rather than decrease.

Both yesterday and today, I took part in discussions in the Diet in regard to TPP. I was pressed by the opposition who said, “Given the current state of the United States, of which you are no doubt aware, why should Japan ratify the TPP?” However, I believe that now, more than ever, when protectionism is spreading, it is Japan that must take the lead and demonstrate the significance of the values of free trade and of creating new rules with countries that share the universal values of freedom, democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. 

I am certain that the United States also will reaffirm the importance of creating new global rules for the sake of free trade, including the TPP.

On November 17, I will have a meeting with President-elect Donald Trump. We already have a shared understanding that the Japan-U.S. Alliance is the foundation of regional peace and stability.

We must join hands to tackle the various issues faced by the global community and make a better world. I intend to take on the challenge of addressing these issues.

I would like to close my remarks by expressing my hope that the Japan Foundation Center for Global Partnership and the Abe Fellowship, which have now reached their 25th year, will achieve even greater things in the next 25 years. Thank you.”