VZCZCXRO2248
RR RUEHFK RUEHKSO RUEHNAG RUEHNH
DE RUEHKO #0041 0070828
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 070828Z JAN 10
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8582
INFO RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 8207
RUEHNAG/AMCONSUL NAGOYA 5314
RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA 0551
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 2020
RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO 8706
UNCLAS TOKYO 000041
SIPDIS
STATE FOR E, EEB, EAP/J AND EAP/EP
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON EFIN ETRD PREL JA
SUBJECT: ENGAGING JAPAN IN 2010
REF: A. 09 TOKYO 2302
B. 09 TOKYO 2715
MESSAGE FROM AMBASSADOR ROOS TO ASSISTANT SECRETARY FERNANDEZ
Mission Japan congratulates you on your confirmation and
assumption of duties as the new Assistant Secretary of State
for Economic, Energy and Business Affairs. I appreciate your
recent message to economic officers in the field, which
serves as a springboard for us to talk about our work here in
Japan. I wish to share the highlights of our thinking with
you.
While the Democratic Party of Japan's (DPJ) historic August
30, 2009 Lower House election victory has changed Japan's
political landscape, things remain more or less the same --
for good and bad -- with respect to the economy. Japan is
still the world's second largest economy, the United States'
fourth largest trading partner ($750 million in goods and
services trade a day), the fifth largest provider of Official
Development Assistance, and a significant source of foreign
direct investment. However, Japan also remains mired in a
long period of under-potential economic growth (estimated to
be 1 percent for the current year), with unemployment and
deflation both at historic highs.
I believe we have a good strategy for engaging the new DPJ
government in Japan on economic issues over the next eight
months by focusing on areas where our interests converge (Ref
A). U/S Hormats began a dialogue with a wide range of
Japanese officials during his visit in mid-November, and we
are pursuing opportunities to further this agenda (Ref B). I
know you can help. The election of a new government here
provides us with openings to further our collaboration in
areas like climate change and energy security, rebalancing
the global economy (which, in Japan, means promoting domestic
demand), strengthening APEC, foreign assistance, and
tightening rules on terrorist financing/sanctions enforcement.
A new initiative of great personal interest to me is our
effort to promote innovation and entrepreneurship in Japan.
I have asked an interagency team to find ways to assist the
Japanese in unlocking some of the vast innovative potential
here as our countries confront great economic challenges to
promote sustainable growth. We are also highlighting these
themes in our public outreach activities.
As you develop your travel and meeting calendar for the
months ahead, I strongly encourage you to visit Tokyo at an
early date. The entire Mission team stands ready to assist
you and we can organize a substantive and productive visit.
Japan is also an important early stop for you because 2010
will be a pivotal year in our bilateral relationship. We
will celebrate the 50th anniversary of our security alliance
this year, and Japan is chairing the Asia Pacific Economic
Cooperation forum, including the leaders' meetings in
Yokohama next November. These two events represent an
opportunity for our governments to highlight all that we do
bilaterally and globally.
Mission Japan and I look forward to organizing a visit and to
welcoming you here.
ROOS