Statement by the
Press Secretary on the President’s Travel to Asia
in April
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/02/12/statement-press-secretary-president-s-travel-asia-april
The President will
travel to Japan, the Republic of Korea,
Malaysia and the Philippines in late April as part of his ongoing
commitment to increase U.S.
diplomatic, economic and security engagement with countries in the Asia-Pacific
region.
In Japan, the
President will meet with Prime Minister Abe to highlight the historic steps the
United States and Japan are taking to modernize our 54-year alliance, deepen
our economic ties, including through the Trans-Pacific Partnership, and expand
our cooperation on a range of diplomatic challenges in Asia and globally.
The President will
then travel to the Republic of Korea, where he will meet with President Park to
reaffirm the United States’ commitment to a strong alliance, review recent
developments in North Korea and our combined efforts to promote
denuclearization, and discuss our ongoing implementation of the Korea-United
States FTA.
In Malaysia, the President will meet with Prime
Minister Najib of Malaysia
to showcase the substantial progress made in deepening our diplomatic,
economic, and defense ties with such an important partner in Southeast
Asia.
The President will
then travel to the Philippines,
the fifth Asian treaty ally he will have visited during his presidency. He will meet with President Aquino to
highlight our economic and security cooperation, including through the
modernization of our defense alliance, efforts to expand economic ties and
spark economic growth through the Partnership for Growth, and through our deep
and enduring people-to-people ties.
Ambassador Kennedy
Welcomes Koji Uehara and the Red Sox Nation to Her Residence
http://japan.usembassy.gov/e/p/tp-20140121-01.html
Ambassador Caroline
Kennedy welcomed Red Sox fans to her home this evening to celebrate the 2013
World Series Championship. Along with Tokyo's own Musashi Fuchu Little League
Baseball World Champions and representatives of Japan's Women's National Softball
Team, the Red Sox Nation in Japan gathered to welcome Red Sox star pitchers
Koji Uehara and Junichi Tazawa and to celebrate a sport that captures the
imaginations of both the U.S. and Japan.
"Baseball has
forged a special bond between Japan
and the United States,"
explained Ambassador Kennedy, who had decorated her living room with framed
photographs of key moments in baseball diplomacy. One photo showed Babe Ruth
sitting with Japanese high school baseball players during a game in Tokyo in
1934, while two other photos featured Major League Baseball players visiting
Tohoku shortly after the March 11, 2011 Great East Japan earthquake and
tsunami.
In her opening
remarks, Ambassador Kennedy thanked Major League Baseball for its continuing
contributions to the U.S.-Japan relationship, saying that "You and your
players - past and present - are ambassadors of good will to millions of fans
here in Japan.
Thank you for continuing the great legacy of baseball diplomacy between our two
countries."
Red Sox pitcher Koji
Uehara responded to the Ambassador's remarks by thanking the Ambassador and the
rest of the Red Sox Nation for their support of his team and of the U.S.-Japan
relationship. MLB's Vice President for Asia, Jim Small, confirmed during his
remarks that MLB intends to continue its partnership with the Embassy and the
TOMODACHI Initiative to promote sports exchanges and assist the young people of
the still recovering Tohoku region.
Guests at the
reception included Japanese Baseball Commissioner Katsuhiko Kumazaki, former
Major League star and 2009 World Series MVP Hideki Matsui, and Maestro Seiji
Ozawa, a member of the Red Sox Nation.
Guests had an opportunity
to pose for photos with the World Series trophy and with Red Sox mascot Wally
the Green Monster, as well as with the players.
Ambassador Kennedy
Visits Okinawa
http://japan.usembassy.gov/e/p/tp-20140214-01.html
Ambassador Caroline
Kennedy made her first visit to Okinawa
Prefecture Feb. 11-13.
Her first stop was the Okinawa Peace Memorial Park, where she offered flowers
at the National War Dead Peace Mausoleum and reflected on the sacrifices of the
soldiers and civilians who lost their lives in the Battle of Okinawa.
In remarks she made
at the Okinawa Prefectural
Peace Memorial
Museum after the visit, Ambassador
Kennedy said, "Okinawa has played a
critical role in history for 500 years. This memorial bears witness to the
sacrifices Okinawans have made and the leadership Okinawa
has shown in working to end war and violence."
Ambassador Kennedy
then met with Okinawa Governor Hirokazu Nakaima and discussed issues of mutual
interest, presenting him with a copy of the visa application then-Congressman
John F. Kennedy submitted when he went to Okinawa for medical treatment in 1951.
After meeting with
the governor, Ambassador Kennedy visited the historic Shuri
Castle and learned about Okinawa's
unique history and culture, after which she visited Shuri High School
to participate in a poetry exchange with the students there.
On February 13,
Ambassador Kennedy met with the organizers of the upcoming Kadena Special
Olympics in the morning, after which she visited Camp
Foster to meet with and offer words of
encouragement to U.S.
military personnel there. She then inspected the newly constructed U.S. Naval
Hospital before departing Camp Foster
for Camp Schwab, where she was briefed about
plans for the Futenma Replacement Facility.
Ambassador Kennedy's
schedule in Okinawa on February 13
http://japan.usembassy.gov/e/p/tp-20140214-02.html
Morning
[Informal meeting
with Kadena Special Olympic hosts]
Eunice Kennedy
Shriver, younger sister of the late President John F. Kennedy, established the
Special Olympics in 1968. For this reason, Ambassador Kennedy is deeply
interested in events related to the Special Olympics. The Ambassador held an
informal meeting with Kadena Special Olympic hosts and encouraged their
activities.
The hosts provided
the following explanation of their activities:
The Kadena Special
Olympics has been held at Kadena Air Base for people with special needs. In the
first Olympics in 2000, only 100 persons participated, but the number has
increased by about fifteen-fold. The Olympics have grown to become the largest
regional event supported by the U.S.
military in the Pacific region.
Eighteen games and an
art exhibition are held in a one-day event. Music and other kinds of
entertainment are also offered for participating athletes and their families.
In 2013, 1,460
athletes took part in the event, with support from 500 Japanese and 1,800
American volunteers. Ninety-nine percent of the athletes were from more than 77
nursing homes in Okinawa.
[Encouragement for U.S. service members in Okinawa and their
families at Camp Foster]
Met with some 200
members of the four branches of the armed forces in Okinawa and their families
at Camp Foster, thanked them for their contributions to U.S.-Japan security,
and gave them words of encouragement.
Midday
[Visit to U.S. Naval
Hospital]
Visited the U.S. Naval
Hospital that was built
in March 2013 and received from an official the below briefing on U.S.-Japan
cooperation at the hospital.
U.S. Naval Hospital
accepts six Japanese doctors every year to help them acquire skills that can be
applied to international activities in the future by learning the differences
between the U.S. and Japan on the medical front.
In cooperation with a
local nursing school, the hospital offers study tours, etc.
Afternoon
[Visit to Camp Schwab]
Visited Camp Schwab
by motor vehicle and received a briefing on the Futenma replacement facility.
Departed from Naha Airport
in Okinawa at around 2 p.m.