Remarks Upon Arrival in Japan

QUESTION: Yuriko Kudo, of NHK public broadcaster. Welcome to Japan. Can I have some comments from you?

DEPUTY SECRETARY NEGROPONTE: I’m very happy to be back here. I’m here for consultations. I went to Seoul, Korea first, now I’m here in Tokyo. I’ll be here for several days and then I’m going to Beijing. This will be an opportunity to consult with the government of Japan about various matters of mutual interest both with respect to regional issues and our bilateral relationship.

QUESTION: There are many issues to talk about, I think. What about North Korea?

DEPUTY SECRETARY NEGROPONTE: One of the issues will be the whole situation on the Korean peninsula, but also we have the upcoming G-8 meetings, we have bilateral questions with regard to our bases, our military relationship. But of course, overall we have an excellent relationship with Japan, and our treaty relationship with Japan is really the cornerstone of our relationships and our policy towards the East Asia and Pacific region. So I’m very happy to be back in a country that is such an important friend of the United States. Thank you very much.