[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1998, Book II)]
[November 19, 1998]
[Pages 2054-2055]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Remarks at a Dinner Hosted by Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi of Japan in 
Tokyo
November 19, 1998

    Prime Minister, Mrs. Obuchi, members of the Japanese delegation, and 
honored guests. First, let me say on behalf of the American delegation, 
I thank you for your warm hospitality.
    It is a pleasure to look around this room tonight and see so many 
friendly faces from my previous trips to Japan: your distinguished 
predecessors, your Ambassador and former Ambassadors, distinguished 
business leaders. The relationship between our two countries has always 
been important, but never more important than now.
    I, too, enjoyed our meeting in New York 2 months ago. Tonight I am 
delighted to be back in the Akasaka Palace. I also--Prime Minister, I 
feel terrible about the schedule which we are on together, but since you 
mentioned it, perhaps we can make sure that we both stay awake at the 
dinner tonight. [Laughter]
    Let me say, in all seriousness, too, I was deeply honored to be 
received by the Emperor and the Empress today, and very much appreciated 
the visit that we had and the good wishes they sent to my family.
    Since my last visit here in the spring of 1996, strong winds have 
blown across the world, disrupting economies in every region. There have 
also been threats to peace and stability, from

[[Page 2055]]

acts of terrorism to weapons of mass destruction. Yet, the world has 
made progress in the face of adversity. It is more peaceful today than 
it was 2 years ago when I was here. Hope has come to Northern Ireland. 
Peru and Ecuador have resolved their longstanding dispute. Bosnia is 
building a self-sustaining peace. A humanitarian disaster has been 
averted in Kosovo, and the people there have, now, hope for regaining 
their autonomy. The Middle East is back on the long road to peace.
    All of these areas of progress have one thing in common: They 
represent the triumph of a wide circle of nations working together, not 
only the nations directly affected but a community of nations that 
brings adversaries to the table to settle their differences.
    Year-in and year-out, Japan's generous contributions to peacekeeping 
efforts and your eloquent defense of the idea of global harmony have 
gone far to make this a safer world. In Central America, you have 
provided disaster relief in the wake of Hurricane Mitch. I should say, 
Mr. Prime Minister, that I wish my wife were with me tonight, but she is 
there, where they had the worst hurricane disaster in 200 years. And I 
thank you for helping people so far from your home.
    In the Middle East, you have contributed substantial funds to aid 
the peace process. In recent months you have further advanced the cause 
of peace by taking your relations with Asian neighbors to a new and 
significantly higher level of cooperation. And despite economic 
difficulties at home, you have contributed to recovery efforts 
throughout Asia. That is true leadership.
    Now, Mr. Prime Minister, you have made difficult decisions to 
overcome your own economic challenges. The path back to growth and 
stability will require your continued leadership, but we hope to work 
with you every step of the way.
    In dealing with these difficulties, Japan can lead Asia into a 
remarkable new century, a century of global cooperation for greater 
peace and freedom, greater democracy and prosperity, greater protection 
of our environment, greater scientific discovery and space exploration.
    At the center of all our efforts is the strong bond between the 
people of the United States and the people of Japan. Our security 
alliance is the cornerstone of Asia's stability. Our friendship 
demonstrates to Asia and to the world that very different societies can 
work together in a harmony that benefits everyone.
    Two fine examples of our recent cooperation are the new Asia growth 
and recovery initiative that you and I recently announced, Prime 
Minister, and, as you mentioned, the space shuttle Discovery, which 
included your remarkable astronaut Chiaki Mukai. I understand that when 
Dr. Mukai spoke with you from space, Prime Minister, she offered the 
first three lines of a five-line poem, a tanka poem, and she invited the 
people of Japan to provide the final two lines. I want to try my hand at 
this.
    As I understand it, her lines were:

    Spinning somersaults;
    Without gravity's limits
    In space flight with Glenn.

    I would add:

    All is possible on Earth and in the heavens
    When our countries join hands.

    Ladies and gentlemen, I ask you to join me in a toast to the Prime 
Minister and Mrs. Obuchi and to the people of Japan.

Note: The President spoke at 7:50 p.m. in the Kacho No Ma Banquet Hall 
at Akasaka Palace. In his remarks, he referred to Prime Minister 
Obuchi's wife, Chizuko; Japanese Ambassador to the U.S. Kunihiko Saito; 
and Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko of Japan. The transcript 
released by the Office of the Press Secretary also included the remarks 
of Prime Minister Obuchi.