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*Aso, Obama to meet Feb. 24, strong Japan-U.S. ties reaffirmed*
*TOKYO*, Feb. 17 KYODO
*Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso* and *U.S. President Barack
Obama*will meet in Washington on Feb. 24 for Obama's first talks with
a foreign
leader at the White House since taking office, the nations' foreign
ministers agreed Tuesday in a move to further demonstrate the U.S. emphasis
on their alliance.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, in Japan on her first overseas
trip as the chief U.S. diplomat, assured Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone
of Japan's importance in the Asian region and confirmed bilateral solidarity
in pressing for North Korea's denuclearization.
''The fact that the Japanese premier is the first to be invited (to the
White House) reflects the importance placed on Japan-U.S. relations,''
Nakasone said in a joint press conference after the talks.
''I firmly believe this will be the perfect opportunity to show
everyone that the world's No. 1 and No. 2 economies are working together to
tackle the various difficult global issues including the economic
situation,'' he added.
Clinton also agreed with Nakasone to reinforce cooperation on the
global front on such issues as terrorism in Afghanistan and Pakistan, energy
and climate change, nonproliferation, antipiracy, and the Middle East peace
process.
''The alliance between the United States and Japan is a cornerstone of
our foreign policy,'' Clinton said, describing the ties as being ''strong''
and ''vibrant'' in an attempt to allay anxieties in Japan that Obama may
favor China instead.
''Working together to deal with the multitude of issues that affect not
only Asia but the entire world is a high priority of the Obama
administration,'' she said.
The two ministers shared expectations for China to play a
''constructive role'' in the international arena, while Clinton warned North
Korea that a possible missile launch that Pyongyang has been hinting at
would be ''very unhelpful'' to efforts to move the denuclearization process
forward.
Clinton's weeklong visit to Asia, which will also take her to
Indonesia, South Korea and China, comes amid recent bellicose rhetoric from
North Korea and signs that it is preparing to test-fire a long-range
missile. Pyongyang suggested Monday it would go ahead with the rocket launch
for what it claims to be ''space development.''
''We must advance our efforts to secure a complete and verifiable
denuclearization of North Korea,'' Clinton said, referring to a consensus
with Nakasone to press ahead with the six-party talks and to strengthen
collaboration to that end together with South Korea.
In response to Nakasone's request for understanding of Japan's position
on resolving the North's abductions of Japanese citizens, Clinton agreed
that the issue remains part of the six-party talks and should be part of the
''comprehensive engagement'' with North Korea.
''I am not worried that the United States will make significant changes
to its North Korea policy in the near future,'' Nakasone said, dismissing
concerns that the Obama administration may put aside the issue in
negotiations with Pyongyang as his predecessor President George W. Bush did.
To show that Washington will not neglect the abduction issue, a highly
sensitive subject in Japan, Clinton met with some family members of the
missing Japanese later Tuesday and told them she believes the issue should
also be a priority for the U.S. government.
Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura welcomed Clinton's
approach as ''a step forward compared to the Bush administration'' and said
he is hopeful the matter will move forward.
On the bilateral security alliance, Clinton and Nakasone signed a new
accord on the sharing of costs for relocating 8,000 U.S. Marines and their
families from Okinawa to Guam. It commits both sides to realizing an earlier
agreed-on road map by 2014, aimed at reducing burdens on base-hosting
communities while maintaining deterrence.
''This agreement...reinforces the core of our alliance -- the mission
to ensure the defense of Japan against attack and to deter any attack by all
necessary means,'' Clinton said. ''It enshrines our two nations' shared
contributions in carrying out the realignment of our forces and the
relocation of Marines from Okinawa to Guam.''
Japan will shoulder $6.09 billion of the estimated $10.27 billion cost
of facilities and infrastructure development costs for the relocation,
including $2.8 billion in direct cash contributions.
On antiterrorism cooperation, Clinton commended Japan for its
contributions so far in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and promised high-level
participation from the United States at a donor conference on Pakistan
expected to be held in Japan next month.
In talks with Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada, Clinton expressed
appreciation for the Self-Defense Forces' support for U.S.-led missions in
Iraq, around Afghanistan, and antipiracy operations off Somalia.
Meanwhile, she also said she hopes to encourage ''more engagement'' by
Japan in peacekeeping operations within the limitations of the pacifist
Constitution, Defense Ministry officials said.
In joint efforts to address the global financial crisis, Clinton said
at the news conference the two nations are aware of their responsibilities
to lead a ''coordinated global response'' and Nakasone added that both sides
will also work on reviving their respective economies.
The two allies hope to coordinate measures at the Aso-Obama talks next
week ahead of the financial summit to be held in London on April 2.
But while the United States hopes Japan will play a larger role in
rebuilding the world economy, it comes at a time when Japan is facing its
worst economic crisis since the end of World War II, with the economy
contracting in the fourth quarter of 2008 at the fastest pace in about 35
years.
Clinton's meeting with Nakasone also coincided with Finance Minister
Shoichi Nakagawa's announcement that he will resign, which will undoubtedly
deal a further blow to the government.
At the talks, Nakasone also reiterated Japan's disappointment at the
''Buy American'' provision in the U.S. economic stimulus package, Japanese
Foreign Ministry officials said.
Clinton started the day with a visit to Tokyo's Meiji Jingu shrine to
''show respect for the history and culture of Japan,'' she said to reporters
at the shrine.
Her agenda in Tokyo also includes talks separately with Aso and
opposition leader Ichiro Ozawa of the Democratic Party of Japan, whose camp
could oust the ruling coalition from power in a general election this year.
It is rare for a U.S. secretary of state to meet a Japanese opposition
leader on an official visit, a move observers say may stoke anxiety in the
already fragile Aso administration which is suffering falling support rates.
Apart from the official talks, Clinton, the first U.S. secretary of
state to make Japan the destination of her overseas debut, also took part in
a dialogue meeting with students at the University of Tokyo.
Clinton has previously visited the country four times, including in
1993 and 1996 when she accompanied her husband, then President Bill Clinton,
as first lady.
(Daisuke Yamamoto, Mie Sakamoto, Miya Tanaka and Takaki Tominaga also
contributed to this report)
==Kyodo
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