Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Opening Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Fujimura

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: Regarding the submission of the Interim Report of the Investigation and Verification Committee on the Accident at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Stations of Tokyo Electric Power Company. Today, at 6:05pm, scheduled time, Chairperson Yotaro Hatamura is expected to hand the Interim Report to Prime Minister Noda at the Prime Minister's Office. I would like to express my profound gratitude to Chairperson Hatamura and all members of the Committee for their commitment and efforts for compiling the Interim Report in just over a period of six months. Based on this report, the Government will take steps to prevent the recurrence of similar accidents in ensuring that such accidents never happen again. We have asked the Committee to further compile a final report in the future, and we look forward to the Committee's further proactive activities toward that end.

Q&As

(Abridged)

REPORTER: I believe the Prime Minister will be leaving for India tomorrow. Can you provide an overview of his visit to India?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: I mentioned a number of items previously, when I discussed the itinerary and other matters of the Prime Minister's visit to India. I believe you will be able to find more details if you review that press conference. Every year, the leaders of the two countries take turns making reciprocal visits, and this year is Japan's turn to visit India. With respect to package infrastructure projects in particular, in the context of the increasingly large size of the middle class in India, Prime Minister Noda wishes to further advance the Japan-India economic cooperative relations in particular, as well as of course the bilateral political cooperative relations. That is a very rough overview. I noted several items when I discussed this at a previous press conference.

REPORTER: With regard to the evolving situation in North Korea, Japan and China agreed on the stabilization of the Korean Peninsula. What are your thoughts on this?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: I believe you are referring to the Japan-China summit meeting. The Prime Minister will be departing China shortly, and I have not received a detailed report yet. However, I understand that during the Prime Minister's visit to China, both sides shared the recognition that it is important to deepen their mutually beneficial relationship based on common strategic interests. Based on this recognition, discussion also took place on Japan-China relations as a whole and the North Korean situation. Also, with regard to bilateral relations, I understand that a variety of agreements were reached, including on the launch of a Japan-China senior working-level maritime consultations to further activate high-level exchanges, and regarding maritime search and rescue agreement, and furthermore, regarding financial cooperation. With regard to the North Korean situation, I understand that both sides concurred very much that it is important for Japan and China to communicate closely with each other and to respond calmly and appropriately under the unfolding situation of the death of Chairman Kim Jong-Il of the National Defense Commission. Furthermore, on this occasion, Prime Minister Noda once again requested China's understanding and cooperation for the resolution of the abduction issue. I believe China has also agreed to loan pandas, but on this, I have not yet received an accurate report. I do understand that the topic of pandas and ibis was also discussed.

(Abridged)