日本外相关于钓鱼岛问题接受采访英文(2)

amount of money?" we would like to continue to seek answers from China. We would like to make this effort with our ally the United States and other countries we are friends with. As Mr. (Robert) Zoellick, the former deputy secretary of state, said, we would like China to act as a responsible stakeholder.

日本外相就钓鱼岛问题谈中日关系

Q: Do you believe incidents like this and incidents in the South China Sea will encourage stronger cooperation between the U.S. and Japan and other countries?

Not exactly vis-a-vis China, but President Obama said to Prime Minister Kan that the collaboration or cooperation should be strengthened in the East China Sea, South China Sea and the Yellow Sea.

Q: How does Japan justify its recent yen intervention?

A: In the discussion between President Obama and Prime Minister Kan yesterday there was talk about the renminbi. President Obama said to Prime Minister Kan that the yuan should be revalued. On the other hand, with respect to the Japanese yen, the yen has strengthened, more than indicated by the actual strength of the Japanese economy. There (were) also some speculative moves. So with a very strong determination on the part of the Japanese government, any further appreciation of the yen should be stopped. And with such a strong determination, intervention took place. Going forward, there may be a possibility for the Japanese government to show its very determined intent. Even so, Japan (would) maintain a very close coordination with the United States and European countries and will explain the position of Japan.

Q: You have been on the job seven days ... Are you concerned about the impact of the turnover of governments in Japan in recent years - and that the fisherman incident could give the world a sense that Japan is weaker?

A: I believe there are three major challenges that Japan is faced with. First, Japan's

population started declining in 2004. Number two, the declining birth rate and aging of the population is occurring at a very high speed. Third, Japan has a massive amount of

budget deficit. Because the Liberal Democratic Party left this situation as it was, there was a change of government. We must overcome this situation. We are no longer in a position of an opposition party criticizing what is occurring. I believe key words here are economic growth.

If you go too far in pursuing fiscal reconstruction, there is a possibility that the economic situation deteriorates. So you should try to firstly focus on economic growth and if possible this economic growth should be without fiscal expenditures to the extent possible. We should try to minimize fiscal spending as we try to achieve economic growth. Therefore, Japan should seriously tackle such issues as the reform of regulations and should also work on (free-trade agreements) and (economic partnership agreements). What I said in the press conference immediately after assuming this position of foreign minister is that I will pursue the economic foreign policy. That is promotion of (economic partnership agreements) and (free trade agreements). And we should also strengthen cooperation and coordination with countries in order to secure necessary natural resources and food. We should also export Japan's high technology to countries abroad, including the expressways, high-speed networks, water and sewage systems, and nuclear power

日本外相就钓鱼岛问题谈中日关系

stations. I would like to place the topmost priority on economic growth as I pursue economic diplomacy.

Q: Thank you very much for your time.

A: My pleasure.