[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 37, Number 27 (Monday, July 9, 2001)]
[Pages 1001-1003]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]
<R04>
Joint Statement by President George W. Bush and Prime Minister Junichiro
Koizumi: Partnership for Security and Prosperity
June 30, 2001
President George W. Bush and Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi met
today at Camp David to reaffirm the partnership between the United
States and Japan based on shared values, mutual trust, and friendship.
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Cooperation for Peace and Stability
Welcoming the fiftieth anniversary of the U.S.-Japan security
relationship, the President and Prime Minister reaffirmed that the U.S.-
Japan alliance is the cornerstone of peace and stability in the Asia
Pacific region. The two leaders agreed on the importance of
strengthening strategic dialogue, and decided to intensify consultations
on the Asia Pacific region and other areas of the world. The President
and Prime Minister emphasized the importance of encouraging China's
constructive role in the international community and early accession to
the WTO, working with the Republic of Korea to achieve peace on the
Korean peninsula, furthering non-proliferation efforts around the globe,
and promoting United Nations Security Council reform and obtaining for
Japan a permanent seat on the Security Council.
The President and Prime Minister decided to intensify consultations
at various levels on further steps in security cooperation, building on
continuing implementation of the Defense Guidelines. The two leaders
noted that these consultations will focus on an assessment of the
regional security environment, and areas such as force structure and
force posture, security strategies, bilateral roles and missions during
contingencies, and cooperation in peacekeeping. The two leaders
reaffirmed that forward U.S. presence is critical to regional stability,
and the President thanked the Prime Minister for Japan's host-nation
support. They agreed on the importance of working on issues related to
U.S. forces in Japan, such as the steady implementation of the SACO
process to reduce the burden on the people of Okinawa, and thereby
strengthen the U.S.-Japan alliance. Recognizing the growing threat from
the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles,
the two leaders emphasized the need for a comprehensive strategy to
address this threat, including a variety of defense systems and
diplomatic initiatives, such as arms reductions. The President and the
Prime Minister agreed that the two governments should continue to
consult closely on missile defense, together with strengthened non-
proliferation and counter-proliferation measures. The Prime Minister
reiterated Japan's understanding regarding the President's call for
exploring a new approach to transforming deterrence. The President and
Prime Minister also reiterated the importance of cooperative research on
ballistic missile defense technologies.
Economic Partnership for Growth
The President and Prime Minister affirmed their belief that open
markets and sound macroeconomic and regulatory policy are vital for
sustained prosperity. The Prime Minister expressed his determination to
vigorously and comprehensively implement structural and regulatory
reform to revitalize the Japanese economy, including through effectively
addressing corporate debt and non-performing loans. The President
expressed his appreciation for the Prime Minister's plan, ``Structural
Reform in the Japanese Economy: Basic Policies for Macroeconomic
Management.'' The Prime Minister welcomed the President's strong
intention to support sustained economic growth in the United States
through tax cuts and other measures. They noted with satisfaction the
completion of the Fourth Joint Status Report on Deregulation and
Competition Policy, and called for increased collaborative efforts to
improve their nations' climates for foreign direct investment.
The two leaders announced the launch of a new bilateral economic
initiative called the U.S.-Japan Economic Partnership for Growth
(detailed in Annex). This initiative establishes a structure for
cooperation and engagement on bilateral, regional and global economic
and trade issues. Both governments also will engage in cooperative
efforts to address other key issues.
President Bush and Prime Minister Koizumi reaffirmed their
determination to stay personally engaged in the effort to launch a new
WTO round later this year in Qatar, to further liberalize world trade
and to clarify, strengthen and extend WTO rules, so as to promote
economic growth and equip the trading system to meet the challenges of
globalization.
Cooperation on Global Challenges
The President and Prime Minister recognized the past cooperative
efforts of the two
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countries in tackling complex global challenges, and pledged to build on
these successes to further expand bilateral global cooperation.
The Prime Minister announced his intention to commit 200 million
U.S. dollars for the Global Health Fund. The President, who has already
pledged 200 million U.S. dollars to help establish the fund, welcomed
the Prime Minister's announcement with gratitude.
The President and Prime Minister expressed their shared
understanding of the seriousness of the challenge posed by climate
change. The Prime Minister pointed to the importance of the Kyoto
Protocol in this regard. The President and Prime Minister recognized
that climate change is a pressing global problem requiring a global
approach. Bearing in mind Japan's leadership at Kyoto, the President
welcomed the Prime Minister's offer to initiate promptly high-level
U.S.-Japan government-to-government consultations to explore common
ground and areas for common action on climate change.
Partners in an Enduring Alliance
The meeting at Camp David provided an opportunity for the President
and Prime Minister to get to know each other on a personal basis so that
they can work together as leaders of an enduring alliance and as close
friends. Noting that the strength of the alliance rests on the robust
support of the American and Japanese people, the two leaders welcomed
expanded exchanges among the citizens of both nations. The President and
Prime Minister decided that at their meeting in Tokyo in the fall they
will review progress on strategic dialogue and the Economic Partnership
for Growth, and that they will work to expand bilateral cooperation on
global challenges.
Note: An original was not available for verification of the content of
this joint statement.