Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Q&As

(Abridged)

REPORTER: Today, the Prime Minister has departed on visits to Mongolia and the countries of Central Asia. Can I ask once again about the significance of these visits, given that many representatives of the financial sector are accompanying the Prime Minister and also in view of the fact that Mongolia is an important country that is cooperating with Japan on the issue of the abduction of Japanese nationals by North Korea?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The Prime Minister has departed on visits to Mongolia and all the countries of Central Asia. This will be the first time for a Japanese Prime Minister to visit all five Central Asian countries. The countries of Central Asia are rich in natural and other resources and many are supportive of Japan. Given this background, the Prime Minister will be holding summit meetings with the leaders of all countries, through which it is hoped that further cooperation between Japan and the countries concerned can be developed. Japan has also provided various forms of assistance for nation building in the countries of Central Asia and also in Mongolia and it is hoped that the visits on this occasion will help to step up such efforts. The countries on the Prime Minister’s itinerary are extremely important in geopolitical terms, and it is hoped that the Prime Minister’s visits and summit meetings with the leaders of each country will contribute to further mutual development.

(Abridged)