Bush, Fukuda discuss NKorea, Afghanistan
Sunday, 18 November 2007
WASHINGTON, Nov 17 (AFP): Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda told US President George W. Bush here Friday that he would make his "utmost efforts" to restart a Japanese naval mission supporting US-led efforts in Afghanistan.
After talks meant to defuse tensions on a range of issues, Bush promised "we will not forget" the fate of Japanese citizens abducted by North Korea as Washington moves to take Pyongyang off a list of state sponsors of terrorism.
The prime minister also pledged to work to build "trusting relations" between Japan and China, according to Japanese deputy chief cabinet secretary Mitsuhide Iwaki, who attended the closed-door meeting.
Bush and Fukuda held their first formal face-to-face talks at a time when relations between the United States and its closest ally in Asia have run into a number of snags.
Washington did not hide its unhappiness earlier this month when the Japanese opposition forced a suspension in a naval mission to supply fuel to US-led forces in Afghanistan when its mandate expired.
"I told President Bush that I will make the utmost efforts for an early enactment of a legislation so that Japan's naval refueling mission in the Indian Ocean will resume as soon as possible," Fukuda said.
Fukuda, a 71-year-old political veteran who took over in September amid turmoil in his Liberal Democratic Party, was to spend only 26 hours here before flying home to help shepherd a bill to resume the mission through parliament.
For his part, Bush tackled the problem of Japanese citizens abducted by North Korea in the 1970s and 1980s to train its spies, which has flared up amid Japanese anger over US plans to say Pyongyang no longer sponsors terrorism.
"I understand how important the issue is to the Japanese people. We will not forget the Japanese abductees and their families," promised Bush, who did not explicitly tie the issue to de-listing North Korea as a terrorism backer.
After talks meant to defuse tensions on a range of issues, Bush promised "we will not forget" the fate of Japanese citizens abducted by North Korea as Washington moves to take Pyongyang off a list of state sponsors of terrorism.
The prime minister also pledged to work to build "trusting relations" between Japan and China, according to Japanese deputy chief cabinet secretary Mitsuhide Iwaki, who attended the closed-door meeting.
Bush and Fukuda held their first formal face-to-face talks at a time when relations between the United States and its closest ally in Asia have run into a number of snags.
Washington did not hide its unhappiness earlier this month when the Japanese opposition forced a suspension in a naval mission to supply fuel to US-led forces in Afghanistan when its mandate expired.
"I told President Bush that I will make the utmost efforts for an early enactment of a legislation so that Japan's naval refueling mission in the Indian Ocean will resume as soon as possible," Fukuda said.
Fukuda, a 71-year-old political veteran who took over in September amid turmoil in his Liberal Democratic Party, was to spend only 26 hours here before flying home to help shepherd a bill to resume the mission through parliament.
For his part, Bush tackled the problem of Japanese citizens abducted by North Korea in the 1970s and 1980s to train its spies, which has flared up amid Japanese anger over US plans to say Pyongyang no longer sponsors terrorism.
"I understand how important the issue is to the Japanese people. We will not forget the Japanese abductees and their families," promised Bush, who did not explicitly tie the issue to de-listing North Korea as a terrorism backer.