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The Prime Minister Delivers Speech at the Dinner for the International Conference on "The Future of Asia" Thursday, May 22, 2008 JAPANESE

Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda delivered a speech entitled "When the Pacific Ocean Becomes an 'Inland Sea': Five Pledges to a Future Asia that 'Acts Together'" at the dinner for the 14th International Conference on "The Future of Asia" held by a newspaper company at a hotel in Tokyo. In his speech, Prime Minister Fukuda stated that Asian countries should steadily broaden their outlook towards the Pacific and develop their capacity to participate in the creation of a network of never-ending expansion and development, and that the necessary environment has to be improved. The Prime Minister then explained Japan's promises in five areas regarding concrete actions that it intends to take: to emphatically support ASEAN's efforts to realize a Community; to reinforce its alliance with the United States of America; to forge itself into a "Peace Fostering Nation;" to foster and strengthen infrastructure of Asia and the Pacific for intellectual and generational exchanges; and to tackle climate change and establish a low-carbon society. In concluding his speech, Prime Minister Fukuda said, "The Asia-Pacific area is an expanding, dynamic network with the sea serving as a large intermediary. I will close my remarks today by saying that Japan and the Japanese people desire to forge bonds 'acting together' with the people living in this region as we strengthen 'heart to heart' trust." Related link: When the Pacific Ocean Becomes an "Inland Sea": Five Pledges to a Future Asia that "Acts Together"