Japan-U.S. Foreign Ministerial Meeting (summary)
On July 23, Mr. Takeaki Matsumoto, Minister for Foreign Affairs, who is visiting Bali, Indonesia to attend ASEAN-related Foreign Ministers' Meetings, held a Japan-U.S. foreign ministers' meeting with the Honorable Hillary Rodham Clinton, Secretary of State of the United States, for approximately 12 minutes from 2:55 PM, local time (July 23, 3:55 PM, JST). The meeting was also attended by, from the U.S. side, Dr. Kurt M. Campbell, Assistant Secretary of State; Mr. Daniel R. Russel, Senior Director for Asian Affairs at the National Security Council (NSC); Mr. Robert D. Hormats, Under Secretary of State for Economic, Energy, and Agricultural Affairs; and others; and from the Japanese side, Mr. Kazuyoshi Umemoto, Director-General of the North American Affairs Bureau; Mr. Shinsuke Sugiyama, Director-General of the Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau; and others. An overview of the meeting is as follows:
1. Opening Remarks
Minister Matsumoto expressed his gratitude for the congratulatory message and apples Secretary Clinton gave to him for Japan's victory in the final of the Women's World Cup soccer championship. He said the whole nation was celebrating the victory. Minister Matsumoto and Secretary Clinton praised both teams for their fighting sprit.
2. Japan-U.S. Relations
(1) Security
The recent "2+2" Meeting, though held under a tight schedule, provided an excellent opportunity for the two countries to exchange views. Minister Matsumoto and Secretary Clinton shared the view that it is important to steadily follow up on the outcomes of the meeting.
(2) Recovery and reconstruction following the Great East Japan Earthquake
Minister Matsumoto reiterated his gratitude for a range of assistance the United States has extended in the wake of the Great East Japan Earthquake. He expressed his willingness to make good use of the Japan-U.S. Public-Private Partnership for Reconstruction. Minister Matsumoto noted that thanks in part to the assistance from the United States, Japan was able to complete Step 1 of the Roadmap towards Restoration from the Accident at Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Station.
3. Global Issues
Both sides reaffirmed the importance of Japan and the United States continuing to work together in addressing a range of global issues. They also agreed to cooperate toward the APEC Summit Meeting that will be held later this year and chaired by the United States.