Burns In Japan

“Japan is an essential world leader,” U.S. Deputy Secretary of State William Burns said recently during a media roundtable in Tokyo, Japan. “Our governments and our people stand side-by-side to meet the most important challenges of our time.”

Burns In Japan

The wide-ranging partnership between the United States and Japan includes, but is not limited to an alliance that has sustained the security and prosperity of the East Asia-Pacific region for more than five decades.

“We discussed recent steps that we have taken to enhance our Alliance, and how we can continue to strengthen it,” Deputy Secretary Burns said. “We also discussed our continuing cooperation with . . . the Republic of Korea, supporting stability on the Korean peninsula by confronting the threats posed by North Korea. On global issues, we agreed to continue consulting closely on the way forward on Iran and on Syria.”

“We also seek to help move the region and the world toward greater political and economic openness and prosperity,” Deputy Secretary Burns continued. “The United States and Japan are working together . . . to stop international trafficking of persons; to empower the people of Afghanistan; and halt the spread of HIV/AIDS in Africa. We are also exploring the farthest reaches of space and pushing back the frontiers of knowledge in medicine and technology.”

The United States remains firmly committed to stand as a partner and friend to assist the Government of Japan and, in particular, the people of the Tohoku region as the rebuilding continues after the devastating earthquake in 2011.

“We have created a private-public partnership, the Tomodachi Initiative, to bring young people from both countries together and cultivate young Japanese and American leaders,” Deputy Secretary Burns said in conclusion. The “Tomodachi [Initiative] is emblematic of our strong, enduring, and forward-looking commitment to Tohoku and the U.S.-Japan relationship writ large.”