On November 12, Prime Minister Noda held a meeting with President Obama for approximately 55minutes from just past 12:00 P.M. (PST) during his visit to Honolulu, the U.S. to attend the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting. The outline of the meeting is as follows.

1. Opening Remarks

At the beginning of the meeting, President Obama stated that he had been extremely impressed with the boldness of Prime Minister's vision in the previous meeting; that the Japan-U.S. Alliance was the cornerstone of the U.S. foreign policy in the Asia-Pacific region and that this strong relationship was extraordinarily important not just for the region, but for the world. Regarding reconstruction from the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami, he said that the American people would stand by Japanese people and he was more than willing to offer any possible assistance.

In response, Prime Minister Noda thanked President Obama for offering kind hospitality as chair of the APEC meeting in such a beautiful location, stating that he came to Honolulu for the first time in 34 years and that he could look over the city when he offered flowers at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific to pay his tribute on the morning. He then articulated that the increasing U.S. presence in the Asia-Pacific region greatly encouraged him and he expressed his intention to cooperate closely with the United States in making economic rules and establishing security order in this region.

Besides, President Obama expressed his sympathy regarding the hospitalization of His Majesty the Emperor and his hope for His Majesty's early recovery.

2. Economy

(1) APEC
Prime Minister Noda highly praised the initiative of President Obama to aim for concrete outcomes regarding innovation and green growth. Both leaders agreed to forward cooperation through APEC for the purpose of realizing economic integration in the Asia-Pacific region. President Obama praised the initiatives of Japan and its cooperation with the United States since the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Yokohama last year.

(2) The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement
Prime Minister Noda said that Japan had decided to enter into consultations toward participating in the TPP negotiations with the countries concerned. He noted that after the Japan-US Summit Meeting in Yokohama a year ago, Japan had the Great East Japan Earthquake and cautious opinions nearly prevailed, but he made this decision to renovate Japan and pioneer a new future of the prosperous and stable Asia Pacific. He also stated that Japan would promote high-level economic partnership based on the Basic Policy on Comprehensive Economic Partnerships announced last November. He expressed that Japan would like to start consultations with the U.S. and the other countries concerned toward participating in the TPP negotiations, and asked for the President's cooperation.

President Obama welcomed Japan's decision, and said that he hoped to cooperate with Japan in the future consultations.

(3) Beef Issue
President Obama welcomed the progress on beef issue and expressed the U.S.'s long-standing view that the matter should be decided based on science.
Prime Minister Noda explained that GOJ had decided to review overall measures against Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), and that it had started preparations for a referral to the Food Safety Commission.

3. Security

Prime Minister Noda highly praised the strong commitment of the United States to strengthening and maintaining its presence in the Asia-Pacific region. Both leaders agreed to steadily promote security and defense cooperation in a wide range of fields.
In addition, regarding the relocation of Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Prime Minister Noda said that his Cabinet was working on the issue and preparing for the submission of an environmental impact statement within the year and that he hoped to receive the full cooperation of the United States regarding the reduction of the impact on Okinawa, including the firm progress in the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps from Okinawa to Guam.

4. Asia-Pacific Regional Affairs

(1) East Asia Summit (EAS)
Prime Minister Noda said that he hoped to develop EAS as a leader-led forum to confirm its basic rules and a shared regional vision and forward concrete cooperation. Both leaders agreed that EAS should be the main forum handling regional political and security issues, and confirmed that their two countries would continue collaboration.

(2) North Korea
Prime Minister Noda pointed out the key importance of urging North Korea's concrete actions. Both leaders agreed that they should maintain close cooperation among Japan, the United States and the Republic of Korea. In addition, Prime Minister Noda expressed his gratitude to the United States for raising the abduction issue during the recent U.S.-North Korea dialogue.

5. Other Issues

International Child Abduction
Regarding the Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction (the Hague Convention), Prime Minister Noda said that work is underway toward the submission of the Convention and a bill on relevant domestic law to implement the Convention to the Diet on the next year's Ordinary Session.

President Obama praised the initiatives of Japan related to this.

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