Monthly News for October, 2003

October 6, 2003

Mr. Koizumi re-elected in LDP Presidential Election

On September 20, the counting of votes cast by LDP Diet members and Party members commenced at LDP Headquarters.　Mr. Koizumi won the presidential election against three other candidates: former Transport Minister Takao Fujii, former LDP Policy Research Council Chairman Shizuka Kamei, and former Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura.

At the press conference following his re-election as Party President, LDP President Junichiro Koizumi renewed his determination to structural reform, saying “the Liberal Democratic Party is the true party of reform. I will steadfastly advance the structural reforms to which I have been committed to since assuming the offices of Prime Minister and Party President, and continue working on revitalization of our economy.”

1. Political Bureau Member of Vietnam visits Secretary General Yamasaki

Nguyen Phu Trong, bureau member of the Communist Party of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and his colleagues visited Party Headquarters on September 3 and exchanged views on political and economic issues involving Vietnam and Japan with Taku Yamasaki, then Secretary General and current Vice President, and Diet member Tsutomu Takebe.

At the outset of the meeting, Secretary General Yamasaki welcomed his guests, saying “I greatly admire the political skills required to promote the DoiMoi Renovation in Vietnam. In Japan, we have been working on economic recovery against a backdrop of years of stagnation. We may be able to reinvigorate our economy by applying DoiMoi style policies in Japan."

Mr. Trong touched upon the relationships between the two countries. “This year marks the 30th anniversary of friendly relations with Japan, and I believe the relationship between our two countries has never been stronger. As for our economic ties, we appreciate that Japan is the best partner for Vietnam in the international community.”

2.　Qatar Ambassador meets Secretary General Yamasaki

Qatar Ambassador Mr. Reyad bin Ali Ahmed Al-Ansari visited Secretary General Taku Yamasaki at Party Headquarters on September 4.

They exchanged opinions on the air route issue between Qatar and Japan, as well the building of Japanese language schools in Qatar.

3. Promising leaders of Indonesia pay courtesy call on the LDP

Emerging leaders of Indonesia visited Party Headquarters on September 10 to exchange views on the relations between Indonesia and Japan with Secretary General Taku Yamasaki.

Visiting were Mr. Hydayat Nuruwahid, President of Welfare Justice Party, and Mr. Djoko Susilo, member of the National Trust Party. They are young politicians in Indonesia and were invited to Japan at the invitation of Ministry of Foreign Affairs as part of the promising leaders of the future program.

They discussed the Indonesian presidential elections due to be held next year via direct ballot for the first time. The visitors invited LDP representatives to observe the election next year to view democratization first-hand. “We are aware that there is negative sentiment against Islam these days, but Indonesia is moderate Islam and believe in a peaceful world."

4. South Korean Ambassador visits Secretary General Shinzo Abe

On September 26, Mr. Cho Se Hyung, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea, paid a courtesy call on Secretary General Mr. Shinzo Abe.

Mr. Cho extended his congratulations to the Secretary General in assuming his new position. The abduction issue was discussed. Secretary General Abe indicated that Korea, Japan and the United States need to cooperate to solve the problem. "At the Six-country talks on North Korea's nuclear program, the North Korea delegate stayed through the meeting, which we regard as a good sign. I will continue making every effort to work toward a solution by inviting cooperation from the other member countries."