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Skriven 2006-06-29 23:37:10 av Whitehouse Press (1:3634/12.0)
Ärende: Press Release (0606292) for Thu, 2006 Jun 29
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Fact Sheet: The Japan-U.S. Alliance of the New Century
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For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
June 29, 2006

Fact Sheet: The Japan-U.S. Alliance of the New Century



President George W. Bush of the United States of America hosted Prime
Minister Junichiro Koizumi of Japan for an Official Visit to the White
House on June 29, 2006, that celebrated their close personal friendship and
the deep and increasing ties between the American and Japanese people.

The two leaders agreed that the U.S.-Japan partnership stands as one of the
most accomplished bilateral relationships in history. They reviewed with
great satisfaction the broadened and enhanced cooperation achieved in the
alliance under their joint stewardship, and together heralded a new
U.S.-Japan Alliance of Global Cooperation for the 21st Century.

The U.S.-Japan Alliance Based on Universal Values and Common Interests

The United States and Japan stand together not only against mutual threats
but also for the advancement of core universal values such as freedom,
human dignity and human rights, democracy, market economy, and rule of law.
These values are deeply rooted in the long historic traditions of both
countries.

The United States and Japan share interests in: winning the war on
terrorism; maintaining regional stability and prosperity; promoting free
market ideals and institutions; upholding human rights; securing freedom of
navigation and commerce, including sea lanes; and enhancing global energy
security. It is these common values and common interests that form the
basis for U.S.-Japan regional and global cooperation.

Bilateral Political, Security and Economic Cooperation

The President and Prime Minister welcomed the tremendous progress in the
U.S.-Japan security relationship achieved during their tenures. Bilateral
security cooperation has deepened as a result of ballistic missile defense
cooperation and legislation in Japan to deal with contingencies.

The two leaders welcomed the establishment of common strategic objectives
of February 2005 as well as the conclusion of watershed agreements to
transform the alliance for the future. These agreements, including the most
significant realignment of U.S. and Japanese forces in decades, constitute
historic steps forward that make the U.S. military presence more enduring
and effective, and ensure the capabilities necessary for the alliance to
cope with diverse challenges in the evolving security environments. The two
leaders agreed that full and prompt implementation of these agreements is
necessary, not only for Japan and the United States, but also for peace and
stability of the Asia-Pacific region.

Asia's historic transformation is underway, creating a region that
increasingly embraces the universal values of democracy, freedom, human
rights, market economy, and rule of law. The two leaders pledged to work
together to shape and support this transformation. In this regard, the two
nations will continue to work on common challenges in the region such as
(a) promoting individual freedoms; (b) increasing transparency and
confidence in the political, economic, and military fields; and (c)
protecting human dignity, and resolving humanitarian and human rights
problems including the abduction issue.

The two leaders affirmed that robust U.S.-Japan cooperation embraces the
dynamism of China, and helps to maintain peace and tranquility in Northeast
Asia. They reaffirmed the importance of advancing strategic dialogues with
friends and allies in the region such as Australia. They called on North
Korea to fulfill denuclearization pledges made in the September 2005 Joint
Statement of the Six Party Talks and to continue to adhere to its missile
test moratorium. They discussed the need for the few isolated regimes in
the region to respect human rights and democratic principles including an
inclusive political dialogue.

The two leaders reaffirmed their common efforts on a wide range of global
activities including recent successes in the war on terrorism, support for
the new government in Iraq, and cooperation on counterproliferation
activities, including on Iran. The President praised Japan's humanitarian
and reconstruction assistance in Afghanistan and Iraq as well as Japan's
support provided to coalition forces operating in the Indian Ocean.

Mindful of Japan's significant role and contributions at the U.N., Japan
and the United States will intensify their cooperation, and work together
in realizing Japan's permanent membership at the Security Council.

They pledged to continue close cooperation under the Strategic Development
Alliance and to work together on other global challenges such as
capacity-building for natural disaster response and prevention and response
to avian/pandemic influenza. They also agreed to work on the interrelated
challenges of energy security, clean development, reducing pollution, and
climate change.

Building upon the progress achieved over the last five years under the
U.S.-Japan Economic Partnership for Growth, the two leaders agreed to
explore ways to further deepen the mutually-beneficial bilateral economic
relationship as well as to enhance cooperation on regional and global
economic issues.

Such an expanded partnership would include: promoting growth and economic
reform; promoting and maintaining open markets; ensuring efficient movement
of legitimate goods, services, people, and investments, while tackling
threats from terrorism; strengthening intellectual property rights
protection and enforcement; enhancing global energy security; and fostering
transparent and favorable business climates in both countries.

The two leaders also affirmed their commitment to make a strong
contribution to ensure a successful and ambitious outcome for the WTO Doha
Development Agenda negotiations by the end of 2006 that opens markets and
achieves a balanced outcome across the board. They expressed their
determination to work together to strengthen the Asia-Pacific Economic
Cooperation (APEC) forum, recognizing its crucial role in promoting
stability, security, and prosperity in the region.

The two leaders shared the view that the U.S.-Japan global alliance remains
a constant and positive force. They shared the expectation that the
U.S.-Japan friendship and global cooperation shall continue to grow
stronger.

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