Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Q&As

REPORTER: A short while ago in Mongolia, where the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) is taking place, a Japan-China summit meeting was held. Have you received a report about the content of the meeting?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I have received a report that from 2:30 p.m., Japan time, for approximately 30 minutes, Prime Minister Abe, who is visiting Mongolia to attend the ASEM Summit Meeting, held a Japan-China summit meeting with Dr. Li Keqiang, Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China. Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Seko, who is also in Mongolia and attended the meeting, is scheduled to give a press briefing, so I would ask you to inquire about the details of the meeting in that press briefing.

REPORTER: I have a related question. I realize that a press briefing will be provided shortly and it is difficult to go into details, but as the summit meeting took place directly after the award issued by the arbitration tribunal concerning the issue of the South China Sea, did the Prime Minister make any requests to Premier Li, such as complying with international law, for example?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: As the meeting has only just finished I would expect that Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Seko will be explaining the details in his scheduled press briefing. In any event, I consider that it was good for a summit meeting to have been held at this time, given the current situation.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: Returning to the matter of the Japan-China summit meeting, this was the first meeting between the Prime Minister and Premier Li since November last year. Could you tell us about the Government’s aims in holding this meeting and also of its significance?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: China is an extremely important neighboring country for Japan and our two countries share a responsibility to ensure the peace and prosperity of the region and the world. Therefore it is of great significance for the leaders of the two countries to hold a summit meeting.

REPORTER: You have just spoken of the significance of the meeting, so can we assume that as the award of the arbitration tribunal has recently been issued, it was also significant in that it presented an opportunity to convey Japan’s stance on this matter to the Chinese side?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: In any event, it is precisely because there are various issues to deal with that it is of the utmost importance for leaders to come together and hold frank and candid exchanges of opinion. This is something that the Government has consistently stated since the inauguration of the Abe administration. In that sense the recent summit meeting was of great significance.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: I have a question concerning the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). The China Daily newspaper is reporting that former Prime Minister Hatoyama has been appointed to the advisory board of the AIIB. Is the Government aware of the facts of this matter and what is your opinion about a former prime minister being appointed to such a position?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I am aware of the press reports, but I would like to refrain from making any comment by the Government with regard to a matter in which a Japanese national has become a member of the advisory board of the AIIB in a private capacity.

REPORTER: With regard to the terror attack in Nice, France, has any new information been received from the consul of the Japanese Consulate General in Marseille who has been dispatched to Nice?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: At the current point, no Japanese casualties have been confirmed. The consul who has been dispatched to Nice from the consulate general in Marseille is currently working to confirm whether or not there are any Japanese casualties.

(Abridged)