Japan Press Weekly

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2009 April 22 - 28 [JCP]

JCP Shii and CPV Manh agree on joint efforts for nuclear weapons elimination

Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo and Communist Party of Vietnam General Secretary Nong Duc Manh agreed to make further joint efforts to abolish nuclear weapons.

The two held talks on April 21 at the State Guest House in the Akasaka Palace in Tokyo.

JCP Secretariat Head Ichida Tadayoshi was also present at the talks.

Developing JCP-CPV relations

Shii expressed his warm welcome to Manh who was visiting Japan at the invitation of the Japanese government.

Manh stated, “I remember exchanging views with you in January 2007 in Hanoi on relations between our two parties and the international situation.”

Noting that Japan-Vietnam relations are developing in various fields, Manh pointed out that the relations between the two parties are playing a key role.

Recalling the talks in Hanoi, Shii said, “We are pleased that our bilateral relations have been developing greatly since we agreed to strengthen them in the 21st century and that we are deepening our bilateral cooperation for peace and further theoretical exchanges.”

Regarding the theoretical exchanges the two parties have had in Tokyo and Hanoi, Shii said that the JCP hopes to further develop them.

On nuclear disarmament

Taking up the question of nuclear weapons, Shii said, “In the Hanoi talks, our two parties agreed to work together for peace in Asia and the world. In this regard, allow me to comment on the issues to which the JCP attaches importance.”

First, concerning the issue of North Korea’s nuclear program, he said that it is essential to make the Korean Peninsula completely nuclear-free, and that the international community is called upon to make tenacious and calm diplomatic efforts to achieve this goal by resuming the Six-Party Talks.

At the same time, Shii emphasized, “In order to solve such issues, eliminating nuclear weapons from the world is the most pressing task.” Citing U.S. President Barack Obama’s speech in Prague on April 5 announcing that the U.S. will seek to achieve a world without nuclear weapons and calling on the world to cooperate to realize this, Shii said that he welcomes the remark. “We take this message very seriously. As a political party calling for the abolition of nuclear weapons in the only atomic-bombed country, we strongly demand that the international community start negotiations aimed at concluding an international treaty to outlaw such weapons. We hope that our two parties can make joint efforts to achieve this,” he added.

Manh stated, “Our two parties share the same position” on the issue of nuclear weapons, and went on to say, “Vietnam can understand fully the wish of the people of Japan, the only A-bombed country, because the Vietnamese have experienced extensive damage from the chemical weapon of mass destruction Agent Orange, although nuclear weapons have never been used in Vietnam. Vietnam will fight until nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction are eliminated from the world.” He also said, “We were also encouraged by the U.S. president’s remark. We hope that his announcement will bring a great opportunity for the world to finally eliminate nuclear weapons.”

Manh said that in order to resolve North Korea’s nuclear issue, the resumption of the Six-Party Talks is the best way, and peaceful and diplomatic negotiation is essential. “Vietnam is prepared to cooperate to achieve denuclearization in this region. We would like to make efforts to eliminate nuclear weapons worldwide and wish to have further talks with you in this regard,” he stated.

Expressing gratitude for achieving agreement on the issue of nuclear weapons, Shii said, “We have been greatly encouraged by the effort of the Vietnamese government, which has sent a message of solidarity to the annual World Conference against A & H Bombs in Japan and which jointly submitted with other ASEAN countries a resolution calling for the abolition of nuclear weapons to the U.N. General Assembly.”

Response to international economic crisis

Manh explained in detail his government’s measures to support citizens’ living conditions to deal with the influence of the international economic crisis, including reducing poverty, controlling inflation, and supporting farmers and farming villages, which are aimed at “making full use of domestic power.”

Shii said that the ability of both capitalist countries and socialism-seeking countries to deal with and overcome the crisis is a question of paramount importance. “If Vietnam will be successful as a nation seeking to build socialism, it will have a worldwide significance. We hope for the success of the Doi Moi (renovation) policies,” he said.