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U.S. President, Japanese PM Meet at Camp David
U.S. President George W. Bush on Saturday met with visiting Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi at the presidential retreat of Camp David, Maryland, to discuss issues on bilateral relations, the global warming as well as the controversial U.S. missile defense program.
"Bearing in mind Japan's leadership at Kyoto, the president welcomed the prime minister's offer to initiate promptly high- level U.S.-Japan government-to-government consultations to explore common ground and areas for common action on climate change," the two leaders said in a joint statement.
They also expressed "their share understanding of the seriousness of the challenges posed by climate change" and recognized that "climate change is a press global problem requiring a global approach."
According to the statement, "the (Japanese) prime minister reiterated Japan's understanding regarding the president's call for exploring a new approach to transforming deterrence" and both leaders also "reiterated the importance of cooperative research on ballistic missile defense technologies."
The Global warming and the U.S. missile defense plan are two of the major differences between the U.S. and Japan. The Japanese government has urged Washington to adhere to the Kyoto Protocol which obliged signatories to cut greenhouse gas emissions and so far declined to offer explicit support for the U.S. missile defense plan.
On trade and economic front, both sides announced an initiative called U.S.-Japan Economic Partnership for Growth aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation on trade and economic issues.
Bush also expressed support for the economic reform plan put forward by the Koizumi government.
Prior to their talks, Koizumi, who flew to Camp David by helicopter, was awarded a welcome ceremony at the retreat in Maryland's Catoctin Mountains.
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