DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 12/31/07

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 07 TOKYO 005694 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR E, P, EB, EAP/J, EAP/P, EAP/PD, PA; WHITE HOUSE/NSC/NEC; JUSTICE FOR STU CHEMTOB IN ANTI-TRUST DIVISION; TREASURY/OASIA/IMI/JAPAN; DEPT PASS USTR/PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE; SECDEF FOR JCS-J-5/JAPAN, DASD/ISA/EAPR/JAPAN; DEPT PASS ELECTRONICALLY TO USDA FAS/ITP FOR SCHROETER; PACOM HONOLULU FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR; CINCPAC FLT/PA/ COMNAVFORJAPAN/PA. E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO PGOV PINR ECON ELAB JA SUBJECT: DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 12/31/07 Index: (1) Gist of Japan-China summit (2) Japan-China summit: Gist of statements by Fukuda, Wen in joint press conference (Mainichi) (3) Government mulls tripling ODA outlays for Africa (Nikkei) (4) Government to accept numerical targets for greenhouse gas emissions cuts (5) TOP HEADLINES (6) EDITORIALS (7) Prime Minister's schedule, Dec. 28 (Nikkei) ARTICLES: (1) Gist of Japan-China summit YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) December 29, 2007 Significance of visit to China President Hu: I heartily welcome your visit to China. I believe your visit to China this time will further facilitate the move for constructing and developing the mutually beneficial and strategic relationship. Prime Minister Fukuda: I might have troubled you because I am visiting you at the very latter days of the year. I appreciate your hospitality. Japan-China relations Fukuda: During the dialogue with Premier Wen Jiabao, I thought both of us shared the common ground in every aspect. Although it is impossible to reach agreement on every thing, I thought gaps are shrinking. Hu: Only a narrow channel lies between Japan and China. Developing Japan-China relations will significantly contribute to the development of Asia and the world. Cooperation in environmental area Fukuda: If a person is determined to do so, he or she can devise ways to do so. The point is whether to be determined to do so. As for the environmental issues, I want to have good discussion and promote cooperation. Hu: Energy and the environment are important for the development of the economic society. I think it is necessary to facilitate cooperation among the countries on the globe so that we can appropriately handle and resolve issues related to them. President Hu's visit to Japan TOKYO 00005694 002 OF 007 Fukuda: I hope you will visit Japan during the cherry blossom season, but it has become difficult in recent years to tell when the cherry blossoms come out. Hu: I want to tell you about a specific itinerary as quickly as possible. Main points of the prime ministerial session Bilateral relations and mutual understanding ? The year 2008 is termed a "year for Japan-China relations to take a huge step," for such important events as the Beijing 2008 Olympics, are planned. ? President Hu Jintao is to visit Japan during the "cherry-blossom season." ? Agreement has been reached between Japan and China to carry out reciprocal visits of officers from the Chinese People's Liberation Army and the Japanese Self-Defense Forces (SDF). In 2008, SDF vessels will be dispatched to China. Joint gas-field development issue ? Vice-minister level talks will be held as necessary. ? From a broad standpoint of Japan-China ties and in line with international law, both sides will aim to reach agreement as swiftly as possible on settling the issue. Taiwan issue ? Japan will not support Taiwan's independence. Japan does not hope to see Taiwan's referendum to ask its public whether to agree Taiwan becomes a member of the United Nations intensify tensions between China and Taiwan. Climate change and the environment ? China recognizes that climate change is an issue the human beings are facing at present. China will take part in international talks in a responsible fashion and seriously implement measures related to climate change. Written agreements ? Joint statement for further stepping up cooperation in the areas of science and technology focusing on climate change issues: Cooperation in science and technology related to climate change will be promoted. Japan will invite 50 or so young Chinese researchers to Japan over next four years. ? Memorandum on activities to be conducted during the four-year period termed a period for Japanese and Chinese youth to enhance friendship and exchanges: The two countries will make efforts to realize mutual visits of 4,000 or so young people from the two countries over next four years starting in 2008. ? Agreement on cooperation in the area of magnetic fusion-related studies: The two countries will establish a bilateral framework, which will work in parallel with a multinational framework on the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER),and promote research and cooperation by using a nuclear fusion device prepared by Japan and China. (2) Japan-China summit: Gist of statements by Fukuda, Wen in joint TOKYO 00005694 003 OF 007 press conference MAINICHI online Dec. 28, 2007, 2:06 pm The following is a gist of statements made by Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda and Premier Wen Jiabao during their joint press conference: Premier Wen: We welcome Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda's official visit to China. During our meeting that lasted two and a half hours, we shared common perceptions in wide-ranging areas. This April, I made a visit to Japan that contributed to thawing the ice in our bilateral relations. It was raining while I was in Tokyo, so I expressed my feelings with this Chinese proverb: "Good rain let us know which season we are in." This time, it is snowing in Beijing. I would like to express my feeling with these words: "Snow is the harbinger of a rich year." I felt that the spring has come for the Japan-China relationship. One of our common perceptions is the need to promote the policy of enhancing bilateral friendly relations. It is important for the two countries to build a mutually beneficial bilateral relationship based on common strategic interests and to develop our friendly cooperative relationship into a long-term, sound, and stable one. The second common perception is the importance of continuing high-level reciprocal visits as a driving force to develop the mutually beneficial bilateral relationship in a steady way. We agreed that President Hu Jintao will visit Japan in the spring of next year. It will be the first visit to Japan by a Chinese chief of state in 10 years. That will be an extremely important and significant visit. Next year marks the 30th anniversary of the conclusion of the China-Japan Peace and Friendship Treaty. Both countries will further strengthen personnel exchange programs, particularly, focusing on those between young peoples. Third is the perception that China and Japan are important economic and trade partners. The two countries will further promote economic and trade cooperation and further deepen cooperation in such areas as environmental protection, energy conservation, financial service, and advanced technology. Prime Minister Fukuda Japan and China have now their most powerful strength ever to contribute to the stability and development of the world. I told Mr. Wen that the two countries should promote reciprocity in bilateral ties and contribute to the stability and development of Asia and the world. I hope both countries will make great strides in bilateral relations in the coming year through the planned visit to Japan by President Hu, the Lake Toya Summit, and a success of the Beijing Olympic Games. Second, both sides confirmed the need to promote a mutual relationship of trust. We agreed to aim at expediting exchanges involving 4,000 young people. I announced Japan's plans to dispatch its naval vessels to China and to open a consulate in Tsingtao. Third, we affirmed the importance of high-level dialogue on bilateral economic cooperation. We also confirmed that it is our countries' responsibility to enhance cooperation on the climate TOKYO 00005694 004 OF 007 change issue for the sake of our descendants and the international community. I said that it is necessary to establish a framework that will draw in major economic powers in a responsible manner. Fourth, the two of us as leaders were able to further deepen mutual understanding on the dispute over gas exploration rights in the East China Sea. We shared the determination that this issue must be resolved at an early date. (3) Government mulls tripling ODA outlays for Africa NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) December 31, 2007 The government has started discussion on the possibility of tripling in 2013 about 1.7 billion yen in official development aid (ODA) disbursements to Africa estimated for this fiscal year. Then Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi promised in April 2005 to triple ODA outlays for Africa over the next three years. His pledge is now likely to be fulfilled. The government intends to prepare a new goal for the Tokyo International Conference on Africa's Development in Yokohama next May. China and Western countries have recently engaged in resources diplomacy with the aim of securing oil and rare metal from Africa. In particularly, China reportedly has appropriated more than 40 PERCENT of its foreign aid to Africa. In contrast, the government, as part of fiscal reconstruction efforts, has decreased its ODA budget for the nine years until 2006. To counter China, however, the government now judges it necessary to increase the ODA budget. One-fourth of all the United Nations member countries are African countries. A senior Foreign Ministry official said: "In order to realize Japan's bid for permanent membership on the UNSC, it is necessary to distribute limited ODA budget allocations in a strategic way." (4) Government to accept numerical targets for greenhouse gas emissions cuts MAINICHI (Top Play) (Full) December 31, 2007 Making a policy switch to set numerical targets for cutting greenhouse gas emissions, the government has decided to propose new standards for a new framework for combating global warming beyond the 2012 timeframe set under the 1997 Kyoto Protocol. Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda will announce this policy decision at the next session of the World Economic Forum (the Davos Conference) in January in Switzerland. Under Japan's plan, countries would be classified into three groups - industrialized countries, emerging countries, and developing countries. New medium to long-term targets for emissions reductions would be calculated for each group. Fukuda will also reveal plans to establish a "funds mechanism" of 10 billion dollars to be disbursed over five years to help developing countries combat global warming. In the 13th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change held this month, Europe and developing countries supported the idea of obligating industrialized countries to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 25 PERCENT to 40 PERCENT by 2020. Japan, however, fiercely reacted to setting numerical targets, incurring criticism from the TOKYO 00005694 005 OF 007 international community as "taking a backward-looking stance on gas emissions cuts. Alarmed at such criticism with an eye on the Lake Toya Summit next July, the government aims to take the initiative in international discussions by making an about-face to approve setting numerical targets and proposing new standards. As measures to obtain cooperation from domestic economic circles, which are negative about introducing numerical targets, the government will propose new Japanese-type standards under which industry-specific reduction targets are worked out in accordance with the degree of progress in energy-saving technology. The government plans to announce its own medium to long-term reduction targets to be worked out based on these new standards by the time of the Lake Toya Summit. The adoption of the classification method is also intended to levy an obligation on China and India to reduce their gas emissions by including them in the group of emerging countries. Regarding the funds mechanism, the government intends to make use of the low-interest yen-loan program and special loans by the Japan Bank for International Cooperation for projects designed to combat global warming. Eligible for this mechanism will be Indonesia and such African countries as Tuvalu, Kenya and Nigeria. Coordination is now underway on disbursements of 10 billion dollars over five years, a final decision will be made by the end of January. (5) TOP HEADLINES Asahi: 54 people since 2001 fraudulently obtain qualifications to become doctors Mainichi: Brand rice prices plunge Yomiuri: Government to tighten foreign aircraft safety checks Nikkei: Japanese firms establishing long-term employment system in China Sankei: Government, ruling coalition to start full-fledged work next moth on permanent law to dispatch SDF overseas Tokyo Shimbun: DPJ to submit a bill unifying pension systems to regular Diet session Akahata: Labor struggle in 2007: Door for permanent employment opened (6) EDITORIALS Asahi: (1) Proposals for hopeful society: ? Stop overtime work by men ? Create a society in which non-permanent employees can become self-reliant Mainichi: TOKYO 00005694 006 OF 007 (1) Looking at 2007: Politics in state of flux; need to regain public confidence Yomiuri: (1) DPJ must stop delaying government's antiterrorism bill (2) World leading auto maker: Toyota's challenges Nikkei: (1) Change in world money, decline in Japanese stocks (2) Fuel efficiency requirements and future of automobiles Sankei: (1) 2007 in retrospect: "Lies" detected everywhere (2) Tokyo Shimbun: (1) Thoughts on New Year's Eve: Many apologies offered in 2007 Akahata: (1) Re-extended Diet session: Ramming through bad bills unforgivable (7) Prime Minister's schedule, Dec. 28 NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) December 29, 2007 Local time Morning Attended a welcome ceremony hosted by Premier Wen Jiabao at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Afterwards, met with Wen. Noon Attended a signing ceremony for a joint statement. Held a joint press briefing. Attended a luncheon hosted by Wen. Gave a speech at Beijing University. vening Met with the National People's Congress's Standing Committee Chairman Wu Bangguo at the Great Hall of the People. Night Met with President Hu Jintao at State Guest House Diaoyutai. Stayed at Hotel New Otani Chang Fu Gong. Prime Minister's schedule, Dec. 29 NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) December 30, 2007 Local time Early Morning Attended a breakfast meeting hosted by the China-Japan Friendship Association held at Diaoyutai, joined by Premier Wen. Played catch with Wen at the tennis court in Diaoyutai. Morning Visited a test elementary school. Arrived by car at Tianjin. Met with Tenjin City's Communist Party Committee Secretary Zhang Kaoli at Renaissance Tianjin TEDA Hotel. Noon Attended a luncheon hosted by Zhang. Afternoon Visited the Exhibition Hall for Planning and Construction TOKYO 00005694 007 OF 007 on Binghai District. Visited Toyota Motor's plant in Tianjin. Evening Left Tianjin Airport by government plane. Night Arrived at Jinan Airport. Had conversation with reporters traveling with the prime minister at Shandong Hotel. Attended a dinner party hosted by Shangong City's Communist Party Secretary Li Jianguo. Stayed at the hotel. Prime Minister's schedule, Dec. 30 NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) December 31, 2007 Local time Morning Left the hotel at Jinan by car. Visited the Temple of Confucius. Noon Arrived at Jinan Airport by car. Gave an interview with the Chinese Central TV. Left the airport by the government plane. Japan time 17:25 Arrived at Haneda Airport. 17:59 Reported his return home at the Imperial Palace. 18:14 Arrived at the Kantei residential quarters 18:55 Arrived at his private residence in Nozawa. DONOVAN