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Monday, July 28, 2014 (AM)
Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)
[Provisional Translation]
Q&As
- A meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada
REPORTER: A short while ago, you held a meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs Baird of Canada. What did you two discuss?
CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I explained about the “diplomacy that takes a panoramic perspective of the world map” that the Abe administration is advancing, as well as about the recent Cabinet decision on Japan’s security policy. Foreign Minister Baird responded that Canada supported the vision of the Abe administration. With regard to economic policy, Foreign Minister Baird expressed that Canada was eager to find out why the so-called Abenomics policy has been so successful. I explained about the overall process of Abenomics. Also, I conveyed Japan’s wish to engage in negotiations towards a Japan-Canada economic partnership agreement (EPA), while following the progress of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations. In addition, as I stated earlier, Foreign Minister Baird highly praised Abenomics and gave comments, notably regarding the progress of the Japan-Canada EPA and the prompt realization of the exports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Canada to Japan. The meeting concluded with the two of us agreeing that we would continue to work closely as countries that share common values, and as members of the G7.
(Abridged)
REPORTER: I have a question regarding your meeting with the Foreign Minister of Canada moments ago. At the start of the meeting, you noted that the solidarity of the G7 was essential for resolving the case of the shooting-down of the Malaysian airliner. Can you please elaborate a little further?
CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: A Canadian national was in fact killed in this incident, and therefore I expressed my condolences. At the same time, I stated that as Japan and Canada are both G7 members, we should coordinate to fully address the situation.
REPORTER: A related question. In other words, you are saying that the efforts of the G7 are needed to make progress on the ongoing investigations by the international community?
CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I take it as a matter of course that the G7 is united in identifying the causes of the crash.
