AMBASSADOR MEETS SENIOR JAPANESE LEADERSHIP

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TOKYO 001961 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/25/2019 TAGS: PREL PGOV EAID SENV ECON MARR JA SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR MEETS SENIOR JAPANESE LEADERSHIP TOKYO 00001961 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: Ambassador John V. Roos per 1.4 (b/d) Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) During August 25 introductory calls on Prime Minister Aso and Chief Cabinet Secretary Kawamura, the Ambassador underlined his goals of strengthening bilateral ties, bringing the peoples of our two countries closer together and addressing the challenges before us, including issues as diverse as North Korea, base realignment and climate change. Our relationship is a global one, and working hand-in-hand, there is much we can do together, the Ambassador said. Welcoming the Ambassador's strong commitment to the U.S.-Japan relationship, both Aso and Kawamura stressed the need for the United States and Japan to continue to coordinate closely to tackle the regional and global issues our two countries face. End Summary. PM Aso -------------- ¶2. (C) The Ambassador opened his August 25 introductory call on Prime Minister Taro Aso by thanking him for his and his government's strong support for the U.S.-Japan alliance. President Obama had emphasized to the Ambassador the importance of our two countries' ties and the need to further build on them, and the Ambassador stressed to the PM that his goal would be to strengthen our bilateral relationship. Noting the range of sensitive and difficult matters before us, including the North Korean nuclear, missile and abductions issues, as well as U.S. base realignment, the PM responded that the United States and Japan must continue to work closely together and make steady progress. "Although the Cold War has ended in Europe, in Asia it continues to exist with one-party states such as China and North Korea," and the DPRK remains "the most touchy issue," Aso said. (Note: The PM conducted the entire meeting in English. End Note.) ¶3. (C) The difficulty of the issues we must address makes it all the more important that our two governments coordinate closely, the Ambassador said. With the United States and Japan preparing to mark the 50th anniversary of the security relationship in 2010, we need to consider how we can establish a framework that will last for the next 50 years. President Obama has emphasized not only that the U.S.-Japan relationship is a cornerstone of American foreign policy, but also that given our strategic and economic ties, there is much our two countries can accomplish by working hand-in-hand. Emblematic of the importance the President attaches to the relationship was the invitation to PM Aso to be the first foreign leader to meet in the Oval Office, the Ambassador added. ¶4. (C) As the world's largest and second largest economies, the United States and Japan represent over 40% of worldwide GDP, PM Aso said, and there is much we should do together. Our bilateral relationship is a global one, the Ambassador agreed, and we have a significant role to play in addressing issues ranging from pandemic diseases and climate change to reconstruction and stability efforts in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Working together, "we can play a major role all over the world," the Ambassador stressed. Chief Cabinet Secretary Kawamura -------------- ¶5. (C) In a separate meeting August 25 with Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura, the Ambassador reiterated his commitment to strengthening the bilateral relationship, bringing the peoples of both countries closer together and addressing the challenges before us. On base realignment, the United States is grateful for the Japanese Government's support and remains committed to implementing the plan as agreed. North Korea also presents a number of challenges, including abductions, and it is critical that our two governments remain in close touch, the Ambassador stressed. The United States is deeply appreciative of Japan's assistance in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan, and we seek to work closely on regional and global issues such as APEC, climate change and renewable energy. As the two most innovative nations in the world, there is much that the United States and Japan can do together, the Ambassador said. TOKYO 00001961 002.2 OF 002 ¶6. (C) Kawamura agreed that the United States and Japan should cooperate to address climate change through our cutting edge technologies, adding that the Japanese people welcome the Obama Administration's strong commitment in this area. Both the Ambassador and Kawamura agreed that the United States and Japan need to coordinate well regarding China and its role in the world. ROOS