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Japan's Global Strategy, Koji Omi, Japan's Minister of Finance, Chatham House, London, Friday 12 January 2007 Review by Sean Curtin  Koji Omi, Minister of Finance: "It is important to improve cultural relations between Japan and the UK." Koji Omi, Japan's Minister of Finance, highlighted some of the global and domestic challenges facing the new Abe administration in a wide-ranging speech delivered at Chatham House. He explained that there is a "shared responsibility" to tackle the major international issues facing the world today such as terrorism and global warming. He emphasized the strong Japan-UK partnership which already exists in tackling these problems. Minister Omi discussed six major themes (i) the security balance in the post-cold war world; (ii) the terrorist challenge since 9/11; (iii) the state of non-nuclear proliferation since North Korea detonated its nuclear bomb; (iv) Asia's place in the global economy and the rise of China; (v) global energy security; and (vi) global warming and environmental protection. The speech was followed by a question and answer session in which the finance minister responded to a broad spectrum of questions ranging from fiscal policy to relations with China. Sean Curtin: The EU and Japan represent about 40% of global economic output and two-way trade between the two was a healthy $150 billion in 2005. I note that Prime Minister Abe has broken with the postwar political tradition by visiting EU leaders before going to Washington. Does this unprecedented move signal a new Japanese focus on relations with the UK and the EU? If it does, will Japan be doing more to promote its cultural image in Europe and especially in the UK through organizations like the Japan Society? Koji Omi: I feel that Japan has a very close relationship with the United States in economic terms. Our export record with the United States has no comparison in the world. We also have a security treaty with the United States, a very important treaty upon which our security depends. So, the US is obviously a very important country for Japan. On the other side of the coin, it is also very important for us to deepen the relationship and ties with European countries and the United Kingdom. Together we can help deal with the economic and developmental programmes for the world and take care of the still developing Eastern European countries. These are also the goals of Prime Minster Blair and, of course, other British government ministers. It is important to improve cultural relations between Japan and the UK. |
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