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Transcript: President Bush Holds Press Conference With Prime Minister Koizumi

Courtesy FDCH/e-Media
Wednesday, November 16, 2005; 8:14 AM

PRESS CONFERENCE HELD IN KYOTO, JAPAN. AS RELEASED BY THE WHITE HOUSE

NOVEMBER 15, 2005

SPEAKERS: GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

JUNICHIRO KOIZUMI, PRIME MINISTER OF JAPAN

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KOIZUMI (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): First I would like to express our sincere welcome to the visit of the President and Mrs. Bush. We are very happy to have excellent weather today, and I'm very happy that President and Mrs. Bush enjoyed the beauty of this ancient city of Kyoto.

Before this meeting, the President and myself had the pleasure of taking a pleasant walk through Golden Pavilion Temple. This is a wonderful environment where we can confirm the importance of our bilateral relations. We have been able to have the candid exchange of views between the two -- bilateral issues, particularly the importance of our relations in the global context. In other words, from the viewpoint of the European alliance and the world. That is the overriding context of our talk today.

We emphasized and confirmed the importance of closer consultation between the two. The United States remains the most indispensable ally to Japan. And if -- the better our bilateral relations, the easier it would be for us to establish better relations with China and other neighboring countries, and the countries in the world.

There is no such thing as U.S.-Japan relationship too close. Some people maintain that maybe we would pay more attention to other issues, probably it would be better to strengthen the relationship with other countries. I do not side with such views. The U.S.-Japan relationship, the closer, more intimate it is, it is easier for us to behave and establish better relations with China, with South Korea and other nations in Asia. This is my firm conviction on the basis of my thinking. Based upon our past, the importance of our bilateral relationships will not change. That is the basic understanding with which I had a talk with the President, and in which we will seek the future direction in establishing and seeking the prosperity and stability of all our nations.

At the same time, when you look at the issue such as the United Nations reform, the importance of our bilateral relationship looms even larger. We should recognize that. And we have been able to have a candid exchange. The United States expressed strong support to us becoming permanent member of the Security Council, and would like to deepen our cooperation on that issue.

On the issue of terrorism, this is going to be a long-lasting, difficult path we have to follow, and in close cooperation with the international community so that each nation will have a peaceful and stable atmosphere. In Iraq, as well as in Afghanistan, the people themselves should work harder to establish themselves as a nation. And we are pledged to provide our utmost assistance for that goal.

Further, concerning the issue of realignment and transformation of the U.S. forces in Japan and the reduction of burden on the local community, and the beef issue, BSE issue, and other future-oriented issues, such as bird influenza, that is an issue which requires closer collaboration between the two. But fundamentally, the importance of our bilateral relations should be recognized. If we do that, and then I hope that we would be able to continue to act as an ally, as a partner, on its own, autonomous and independent, in fulfilling the responsibility in the international community.


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