Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

[Provisional Translation]

I.Opening Remarks by Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga
(Abridged)

II.Q&As
(Abridged)

REPORTER: I have a question about another personnel assignment. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) decided to appoint Mr. Yutaka Yokoi, Ambassador of Japan to Turkey, as the new Ambassador of Japan to China. What type of role are you expecting amid the growing importance of the Japan-China relationship?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Ambassador Yokoi’s background makes him a China expert, studying Chinese after entering the MOFA and having served as Director of the China Division, Consulate-General of Japan in Shanghai, Minister Plenipotentiary at the Embassy of Japan in China. I hope that Ambassador Yokoi fully utilizes his past experience and knowledge in his role as Ambassador to further strengthen the Japan-China relationship, which is important to Japan, and facilitates diplomatic solutions despite the existence of difficult problems between the two countries.

(Abridged)