Latest news with #USJapanRelations
NHK
3 days ago
- Business
- NHK
Richard Armitage memorial praises diplomat's contribution to Japan-US alliance
About 400 people have gathered to remember former US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage, who played a key role in US-Japan relations. The high-ranking diplomat died in April at the age of 79. The memorial ceremony was held on Thursday at the US Naval Academy in the state of Maryland. The participants included former Secretary of State Antony Blinken and diplomats from Japan and other countries. In a speech, former CIA Director William Burns praised Armitage's achievements and character. He said Armitage knew that "diplomacy was not an abstraction but a very human business of building trust with allies and partners." Former Japanese Ambassador to the US Kato Ryozo said, "The passing of Richard Armitage, the greatest and most skilled craftsman in the history of the US-Japan alliance," was a "profound loss" to both countries. Kato added, "The friendship, trust, the many gifts he gave us are living still through us." Armitage worked under President George W. Bush. He was a top expert on Asian and Japanese affairs, and called for strengthening the US-Japan alliance.
Zawya
25-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Saudi Arabia and the United States of America together at Expo 2025 Osaka
The Saudi Arabia Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka hosts VIP delegations and business events that focus on the Kingdom's national transformation and its growing impact on the world. The visit reaffirms the strategic long-term relationship between the Kingdom and the U.S. while providing opportunities for potential future partnerships across all sectors vital to the continued growth of both nations. Osaka, Japan — U.S. Ambassador to Japan George Glass was warmly welcomed by Dr. Ghazi Binzagr, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Japan, at the Saudi Arabia Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka. In leading the private tour, Dr. Binzagr and Ambassador Glass shared a journey of epic discovery through the Pavilion, which showcases Saudi Arabia's rich cultural history, its transformation as a nation, and the impact it is having globally in sustainability and innovation. The U.S. delegation enjoyed warm Saudi hospitality over a discussion which focused on shared Saudi–U.S. goals for Expo 2025 Osaka and beyond, before exchanging gifts in the Saudi Majlis. Dr. Ghazi Faisal Binzagr, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Japan and Commissioner General of the Saudi Arabia Pavilion, said it was a productive and collaborative first meeting between the two Ambassadors based in Japan. 'It was so pleasing to welcome Ambassador Glass and his delegation from the United States of America here today. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Pavilion is not only an important cultural asset where we share our story with the world, but also it serves as a meeting place where global leaders can come together to deepen our understanding of each other, while addressing some of our greatest challenges.' The visit between Saudi and American representatives in Japan comes 10 days after U.S. President Donald Trump's historic state visit to Riyadh for the Saudi–U.S. Investment Forum. In addition to hosting over 700 events across the Expo program which includes business and investment forums, visitors to the Saudi Arabia Pavilion will see daily dance and fashion performances, before visiting seven immersive rooms and galleries, from evolving cities, sustainable seas, unlimited human potential, and the pinnacle of innovation, every visitor can see up close the Kingdom's global impact. The full program of events for the Saudi Arabia Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka is available on the official website:
Reuters
23-05-2025
- Business
- Reuters
US invites Asian officials to Alaska, eyes $44 billion LNG project
TOKYO/WASHINGTON, May 23 (Reuters) - The U.S. has invited officials from Japan, South Korea and Taiwan to Alaska to discuss projects including a vast gas pipeline, two people familiar with the planning said, as Asian governments consider U.S. investments in the hopes of relief from President Donald Trump's tariffs. Trump's energy czar, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, and Energy Secretary Chris Wright will host the June 2 event, the sources told Reuters, requesting anonymity as the details are not public. The event will include a visit to Alaska's remote North Slope, one source said, home to stranded gas fields the U.S. is seeking to unlock through the proposed $44 billion pipeline. It would traverse 800 miles (1,300 km) across the huge state before the gas is liquefied for shipment, mainly to Asian customers. Trump has pushed allies like Japan and South Korea to buy U.S. energy while threatening trade tariffs. He has said Tokyo and Seoul want to invest "trillions of dollars each" in the pipeline project. It is unlikely the Alaska meeting will yield major deals related to the long-delayed pipeline project, as originally hoped, and the size and seniority of the foreign contingent is unclear, the sources said. Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba expressed optimism about the Alaska LNG project during a private meeting with Trump in February, despite doubts in Tokyo about its viability. Japanese and South Korean officials and executives have sounded caution on a project in the works for decades that has made little progress because of cost and logistical challenges. The White House declined to answer specific questions about the event, saying in a statement that Trump "has a proven history of bolstering American energy production and will restore our nation's position as a global energy leader". The Energy and Interior departments did not respond to requests for comment. Officials from Taiwan's state-run energy company CPC, which in March signed a non-binding agreement to invest in and purchase offtake from the pipeline project, will attend the Alaska meetings, the Economic Ministry said. CPC did not respond to requests for comment. South Korean Trade Minister Ahn Duk-geun said last week his government had been invited but that the timing was "very tricky". South Korea holds a presidential election on June 3. Japan's trade minister, Yoji Muto, has also been invited, two sources said. A Japanese government source said it would be difficult for Muto to attend due to parliamentary commitments, while Tokyo's level of participation may be influenced by the progress of Japan-U.S. trade negotiations. An official at Japan's trade ministry said on Friday that no decision had been made on Japanese participation. Locking in binding agreements on the pipeline project may take time as developers have not yet conducted a front-end engineering design study, needed to clarify overall project costs, one source said. The study is expected to begin later this year. The June 2 meeting will also broadly discuss collaborating on energy projects in the Arctic, the sources said. Burgum and Wright are then scheduled to participate in the Alaska Sustainable Energy Conference in Anchorage from June 3 to 5.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
US invites Asian officials to Alaska, eyes $44 billion LNG project
By John Geddie, Tim Kelly and Timothy Gardner TOKYO/WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. has invited officials from Japan, South Korea and Taiwan to Alaska to discuss projects including a vast gas pipeline, two people familiar with the planning said, as Asian governments consider U.S. investments in the hopes of relief from President Donald Trump's tariffs. Trump's energy czar, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, and Energy Secretary Chris Wright will host the June 2 event, the sources told Reuters, requesting anonymity as the details are not public. The event will include a visit to Alaska's remote North Slope, one source said, home to stranded gas fields the U.S. is seeking to unlock through the proposed $44 billion pipeline. It would traverse 800 miles (1,300 km) across the huge state before the gas is liquefied for shipment, mainly to Asian customers. Trump has pushed allies like Japan and South Korea to buy U.S. energy while threatening trade tariffs. He has said Tokyo and Seoul want to invest "trillions of dollars each" in the pipeline project. It is unlikely the Alaska meeting will yield major deals related to the long-delayed pipeline project, as originally hoped, and the size and seniority of the foreign contingent is unclear, the sources said. Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba expressed optimism about the Alaska LNG project during a private meeting with Trump in February, despite doubts in Tokyo about its viability. Japanese and South Korean officials and executives have sounded caution on a project in the works for decades that has made little progress because of cost and logistical challenges. The White House declined to answer specific questions about the event, saying in a statement that Trump "has a proven history of bolstering American energy production and will restore our nation's position as a global energy leader". The Energy and Interior departments did not respond to requests for comment. Officials from Taiwan's state-run energy company CPC, which in March signed a non-binding agreement to invest in and purchase offtake from the pipeline project, will attend the Alaska meetings, the Economic Ministry said. CPC did not respond to requests for comment. South Korean Trade Minister Ahn Duk-geun said last week his government had been invited but that the timing was "very tricky". South Korea holds a presidential election on June 3. Japan's trade minister, Yoji Muto, has also been invited, two sources said. A Japanese government source said it would be difficult for Muto to attend due to parliamentary commitments, while Tokyo's level of participation may be influenced by the progress of Japan-U.S. trade negotiations. An official at Japan's trade ministry said on Friday that no decision had been made on Japanese participation. Locking in binding agreements on the pipeline project may take time as developers have not yet conducted a front-end engineering design study, needed to clarify overall project costs, one source said. The study is expected to begin later this year. The June 2 meeting will also broadly discuss collaborating on energy projects in the Arctic, the sources said. Burgum and Wright are then scheduled to participate in the Alaska Sustainable Energy Conference in Anchorage from June 3 to 5.
Reuters
22-05-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Japan trade negotiator Akazawa to visit US for tariff talks from Friday
TOKYO, May 22 (Reuters) - Japan's top trade negotiator Ryosei Akazawa plans to visit Washington from Friday to Sunday for negotiations over U.S. tariffs, he said on Thursday. Akazawa said details of the upcoming talks, including who will be attending from the U.S. side, have yet to be fixed. "While continuing to demand firmly the U.S. reconsideration over the tariffs, I plan to tackle the talks candidly and constructively to achieve an agreement that is beneficial for both Japan and the United States as early as possible," Economic Revitalisation Minister Akazawa told reporters. TV Tokyo reported earlier on Thursday that Akazawa had a phone conversation with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent before Wednesday, where Bessent expressed reluctance to meet Akazawa this week, but agreed to hold talks next week.
