Japan's farm minister wants chicken deal with Mexico in FY 2006
January 11, 2006Japanese farm minister Shoichi Nakagawa said Wednesday he wants to see a deal struck with Mexico in fiscal 2006 on a cut in Japanese tariffs on chicken imports from Mexico. The visiting minister of agriculture, forestry and fisheries made the remark to Kyodo News after his talks with Mexican President Vicente Fox and other Mexican leaders.
Japan to introduce unmanned spy plane in FY 2007
January 11, 2006Defense Agency Director General Fukushiro Nukaga told reporters on Wednesday in London that Japan will soon start selecting unmanned spy planes that it intends to introduce in fiscal 2007. Nukaga said he expects the planes to enable his agency to gather ballistic missile launch information immediately and monitor hostile vessels and planes if remote islands are attacked.
Tanigaki, Snow discuss exchange rates, fiscal reforms
January 11, 2006Japanese Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki and U.S. Treasury Secretary John Snow exchanged views Wednesday on currency exchange rates, economic policies to sustain growth, and Japan's commitment to begin implementing revenue-expenditure reforms in fiscal 2007. Tanigaki told reporters after their hourlong talks that he and Snow took up exchange rates ''in the context of our discussions on the world economy,'' focusing on China's yuan, not the exchange rate between the U.S. dollar and yen, and agreeing on the need for Beijing to move toward greater exchange flexibility.
6-nation climate meeting officially opened in Sydney
January 11, 2006Australian Prime Minister John Howard on Thursday officially opened the first Asia-Pacific climate conference in Sydney, which is aimed at using technological solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate brings together senior ministers from Australia, Japan, the United States, China, India and South Korea.
Japan's key money supply gauge up 2.0% in Dec.
January 11, 2006Japan's most closely watched money supply gauge rose 2.0 percent in December from a year earlier, the Bank of Japan said Thursday. The average daily balance of M2 plus certificates of deposit came to 713.1 trillion yen. M2 consists of cash in circulation, demand deposits and quasi-money.
Kanzaki says next prime minister should not visit Yasukuni Shrine
January 11, 2006New Komeito party leader Takenori Kanzaki said Wednesday that the successor to Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi should not visit the war-related Yasukuni Shrine so that Japan can mend ties with Asian countries. ''Repairing the relationships with Asian countries is an important responsibility of the next Cabinet,'' Kanzaki said at a party meeting in Fukuoka. ''The next prime minister should not visit Yasukuni Shrine.''