Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Opening Statements by Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga
(There were statements on the overview of the Cabinet meeting and on the ministerial discussions following the Cabinet meeting.)

Today, the 15th meeting of the Strategic Headquarters for Space Development took place prior to the Cabinet meeting. The Minister of State for Space Policy gave a report on the progress in discussions on the Committee on the National Space Policy and Prime Minister Abe gave instructions to aim to revise within the year the Work Schedule of the Basic Plan for Space Policy.

The Cabinet approved Yokohama as the site for the Seventh Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 7), which will be held in Japan in 2019. We will coordinate the specific timing of the conference with African nations and others.

Q&As

(Abridged)

REPORTER: I would like to change the subject to ask about the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), which is being led by China. The AIIB’s Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors takes place in the Republic of Korea (ROK) from today. This is the first time the Annual Meeting is being held outside of China. While you have been asked this before, what is the Government’s view of the AIIB in its current state and what type of cooperation format going forward is being considered?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Firstly, the meeting begins today in the ROK. Regarding Japan’s participation and other matters, as I have repeatedly explained on past occasions, Japan is closely monitoring AIIB operations in terms of whether it can establish fair governance and whether it will properly consider the debt sustainability for borrowing countries and impacts on the existing environment and societies. The Government believes that effectively responding to massive infrastructure demand in Asia is a very important issue. Japan hopes that the AIIB will further enhance its know-how and play a role as an entity that contributes to sustainable development of Asia through cooperation with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), World Bank, and others. This remains our position.

REPORTER: Given this position, what is the Government’s view of a rough schedule of when it will decide whether or not to join the AIIB?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The Government is not thinking about what you just mentioned. As I just mentioned, Japan is closely monitoring the AIIB operations.

(Abridged)