For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
June 30, 2001
Remarks by the President and Prime Minister Koizumi of Japan in Photo Opportunity
Camp David, Maryland
View the President's
Remarks
11:09 A.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: It is my honor to
welcome the Prime Minister of a -- of our close friend and
ally. We had a two-hour meeting, very frank and open
discussion. There's no question we will work
together. There's no question in my mind our relationship
will never be stronger than under our leadership.
We talked about security
matters. We talked about economics, and I want to praise the
Prime Minister for his vision for reform of the Japanese
economy. He's willing to make difficult
choices. And that's what a leader does.
We talked about the environment. We
talked about baseball. And we talked about the need to make
sure that we work for a more peaceful world. And I'm confident we'll
be able to do so. So, Mr. Prime Minister,
welcome. PRIME MINISTER
KOIZUMI: It was a wonderful meeting, and I believe we were
able to establish a relationship of trust. It was a
heart-to-heart meeting. This was truly a wonderful
meeting. I did not feel -- or I did not, at the outset,
believe that I would be able to establish such a strong relationship of
trust with the President in my first meeting, which was much more than
I expected. In the Genoa summit, upcoming
summit, and during the President's visit to Tokyo this fall, I am
certain that we will be able to have even a closer relationship during
our meetings. Q Can we
ask you a few questions, Mr. Prime Minister? I have a
question for both of you, if you don't mind. First --
THE PRESIDENT: He's given one
question, and of course, he asks two.
Q I thought it was one
each. (Laughter.) Sir, Mr.
President, the Prime Minister acknowledges that his reforms will slow
the economic growth in Japan, at least in the short-term. Wouldn't
that threaten to drag down our economy, as well?
And to you, Mr. Prime Minister, do you still
think that President Bush's position on the Kyoto Treaty is
disappointing? And if so, why hasn't your country ratified
it, or at least pledged to do so, without the United States?
THE PRESIDENT: Let me first
answer. First of all, the Prime Minister recognizes that
there needs to be deep and meaningful reform. I talked to
him about our experiences in Texas in the '80s, where we acted -- or
the marketplace acted, we acted to remedy a situation in which we had
bad loans, nonperforming assets, and there was some
pain. But as a result of making the very difficult
decisions, our economy was restructured and came back stronger than
before. I support the Prime Minister --
strongly support the Prime Minister's reform agenda for the
economy. He reminded me that in the course of winning his
election he had to appeal to the people of Japan, and made a very
strong, direct appeal in laying out this aggressive
agenda. And we support him strongly.
I believe, Ron, it's in our nation's best
interests that the Japanese economy flourish, that it's strong and
vibrant. And we had a very meaningful discussion, ranging
from economic restructuring and reform to trade, the new global round
of WTO, as well. And I believe he's the leader that Japan
needs for this moment in her history. He
wants you to talk about Kyoto. PRIME MINISTER
KOIZUMI: I am not disappointed at the President's
position. The President is enthusiastic about environmental
issues and there is still time to discuss this issue.
I believe if the United States and Japan were
to cooperate in dealing with environmental issues, we will be able to
create means which will be more effective in dealing with the global
warming issue and also in reducing our gas emissions. And I
believe that in doing so, we will further be able to cooperate with the
rest of the world. Presently, I do not have
the intention of proceeding without the cooperation of the United
States. To the very last moment I will work with the United
States in cooperating on environmental issues. There's still
time left to discuss ways to cooperate with each other.
Q (Asked in Japanese.)
PRIME MINISTER KOIZUMI: No, we did
not exchange nicknames, like Ron -- in the '80s. But we
still had a meeting in which we were able to have a truly frank
exchange of views in a friendly manner. It was very warm and
it was a very, truly enjoyable, meaningful meeting.
Only people who are called Hen-Jins are able
to proceed with reforms or making changes. But when I say
Hen-Jin, this is not strange or eccentric, but this means
extraordinary. (Laughter.)
Q Mr. President, are you concerned about the
Vice President's health and do you think perhaps he should slow down?
THE PRESIDENT: Mr. Prime Minister,
my great friend and the Vice President of our country went to the
hospital today and put a pacemaker on his heart. It's a
procedure that is viewed as something not out of the ordinary for the
people who have had a heart condition. I'm told the
operation went well. I'm going to speak to him in about an
hour. I look forward to hearing his strong and steady voice
on the phone. No, I don't think he ought to
slow down. I think he ought to listen to his
body. I think he ought to -- which he has been
doing. I think he ought to work at a pace that he is
comfortable with. And I know Dick Cheney well, and if I were
to say, you've got to slow down, Mr. Vice President, he's going to say,
forget it, because he's got a job to do. And
he's a valuable member of my administration. He and his
doctors made the right decision. And I'm told that he's
going to be back to work Monday morning, and I look forward to seeing
him in the Oval Office Monday morning. But I'm going to
speak to him directly.
Q They did put it in?
THE PRESIDENT: They did put it in.
Q Mr. President, after the meeting with the
Prime Minister for almost two hours now, did you find out why he's so
popular in Japan? Did you wholeheartedly support his
economic reform plans, which could result in very slow growth in Japan
for as long as three years? Didn't you have any reservations
at all about his plans -- namely, implications for the global economy
and for the U.S. economy? THE
PRESIDENT: I have no reservations about the economic reform
agenda that the Prime Minister is advancing. He talks about
tackling some difficult issues that some leaders in the past refused to
address. I came -- I knew the Prime Minister
was dynamic; I've heard that, I've read it. But you don't
really realize how dynamic he is until you have a chance to witness his
conversation. He's got a great sense of humor. He
loves to laugh. But he's a courageous leader, as
well. And I admire a person who recognizes that his duty is
not to avoid, but to lead. His duty is to speak plainly to
the people of his country. And I believe strongly that we
will have a good relationship, not only to foster what's in the best
interests of our country -- countries -- and in the region, but we'll
have a good personal relationship, as well. After all, he's
the only world leader I've ever played catch with, with a baseball.
Listen, thank you all for coming.
PRIME MINISTER KOIZUMI: In meeting
with President Bush I instantly felt that with this person I will be
able to give my frank views and I will be able to speak from the bottom
of my heart. He has that kind of an atmosphere within
himself. And with our common-shared values between Japan and
the United States, I am certain that I will continue to be able to have
these frank exchange of views with him. THE
PRESIDENT: Thank you, all.
END 11:21 A.M. EDT
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