Highlights
|
 | | President Obama speaking in Tokyo |
U.S. and Other Pacific Nations Connected, not Separated, by "Great Ocean"November 14, 2009
Remarks by President Barack Obama at Suntory Hall PRESIDENT OBAMA: Thank you so much. Arigatou. Thank you very much. (Applause.) Good morning. It is a great honor to be in Tokyo -- the first stop on my first visit to Asia as President of the United States. (Applause.) Thank you. It is good to be among so many of you -- Japanese and I see a few Americans here -- (applause) -- who work every day to strengthen the bonds between our two countries, including my longtime friend and our new ambassador to Japan, John Roos. (Applause.) It is wonderful to be back in Japan. Some of you may be aware that when I was a young boy, my mother brought me to Kamakura, where I looked up at that centuries-old symbol of peace and tranquility -- the great bronze Amida Buddha. And as a child, I was more focused on the matcha ice cream. (Laughter.) And I want to thank Prime Minister Hatoyama for sharing some of those memories with more ice cream last night at dinner. (Laughter and applause.) Thank you very much. But I have never forgotten the warmth and the hospitality that the Japanese people showed a young American far from home. And I feel that same spirit on this visit: In the gracious welcome of Prime Minister Hatoyama. In the extraordinary honor of the meeting with Their Imperial Majesties, the Emperor and Empress, on the 20th anniversary of his ascension to the Chrysanthemum Throne. In the hospitality shown by the Japanese people. And of course, I could not come here without sending my greetings and gratitude to the citizens of Obama, Japan… (more)
|
|
Latest Headlines From the
Embassy |
 | | President Obama at the APEC Leaders Meeting (Photo APEC Singapore 2009) |
President Affirms Shared Commitment to Strengthened, Sustainable Trade at APECPresident Obama says quick, coordinated, unprecedented actions by many of the leaders in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum helped pull the global economy back from the brink of a deeper recession, but now is the time to begin putting balanced economic growth strategies in place. “Economies around the world are beginning to grow again. And we are on the path to recovery,” Obama said November 15 at the 17th annual APEC forum being held in Singapore. One fundamental economic strategy adopted by the 21 APEC leaders is a set of policies aimed at ending the traditional economic pattern of rapid expansion and contraction that nearly always ushers in a recession. “We cannot follow the same policies that led to such imbalanced growth,” Obama said. Following the lead set at the Pittsburgh Group of 20 Summit that included advanced and emerging economies, the APEC leaders agreed to make growth more inclusive through initiatives that support development of small and medium businesses, establish worker retraining programs for jobs more focused on the 21st-century economy, enhance economic opportunities for women, promote development while also reducing poverty levels, and enhance measures to improve the environment. The APEC nations pledged to increase trade across the region by simplifying customs procedures and improving the movement of goods across and within borders. They also announced an action plan designed to make it 25 percent cheaper, easier and faster to conduct business in the region by 2015 by cutting costs and streamlining processes associated with starting and operating business in APEC economies. On climate change, the APEC leaders called for global action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, which are thought to be a prime cause of global warming. The United States and Japan have already pledged to reduce climate-harming emissions by 80 percent by 2050. The APEC leaders called for collective action to reach an ambitious outcome at an international climate change conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, in December… (more)
|
| United States Dedicated to Renewed Participation in Asia-Pacific The United States is pursuing a new era of strengthened engagement in the Asia-Pacific region based on mutual interests and mutual respect, President Obama says. As an Asia-Pacific nation, the United States will be involved in the discussions that are shaping the future of the region, and will participate fully in regional multilateral organizations as they evolve to meet the changing challenges of the 21st century, the President said in a major address in Tokyo on November 14. One of these organisations is the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), which includes New Zealand, Australia, Brunei, Chile, Peru, Singapore, and Vietnam. President Obama has announced that the United States will be engaging with the TPP "with the goal of shaping a regional agreement that will have broad-based membership and the high standards worthy of a 21st century trade agreement." Acknowledging that in recent years the United States has been less engaged in Asia-Pacific multilateral security and economic organizations, he emphasized in his address to 1,500 guests in Suntory Hall that those days have passed. “I know that the United States has been disengaged from many of these organizations in recent years. So let me be clear: Those days have passed. As an Asia Pacific nation, the United States expects to be involved in the discussions that shape the future of this region, and to participate fully in appropriate organizations as they are established and evolve”… (more)
|
| Heartbreaking, Horrific, Despicable: Tragedy at Fort Hood In his weekly address, President Barack Obama expressed his sadness for the tragedy at Fort Hood where 13 were killed and praised the selfless valor of those who came to the aid of the 42 who were wounded. President Obama: I’d like to speak with you for a few minutes today about the tragedy that took place at Ft. Hood. This past Thursday, on a clear Texas afternoon, an Army psychiatrist walked into the Soldier Readiness Processing Center, and began shooting his fellow soldiers. It is an act of violence that would have been heartbreaking had it occurred anyplace in America. It is a crime that would have horrified us had its victims been Americans of any background. But it’s all the more heartbreaking and all the more despicable because of the place where it occurred and the patriots who were its victims.… (more)
| Related Links |
| United States and New Zealand Share Strong Partnership (Remarks of Secretary Clinton and NZ Foreign Minister McCully following their Oct 9 meeting) Secretary Clinton: Well, good afternoon, everyone, and join me, please, in welcoming Foreign Minister McCully to the State Department. We’ve had the opportunity to talk on several occasions and reaffirm the strong partnership between the United States and New Zealand which has enhanced peace and prosperity in the Pacific and beyond for many years. We have two nations that share democratic values, common historical, economic, and cultural ties, and we’re working to meet a lot of the regional and global challenges together. It would take too long to list everything that demonstrates this partnership. But for example, our soldiers serve side by side in Afghanistan. Our businesses and entrepreneurs are working side by side to create jobs and opportunity. We are working so hard with enhancing our collaboration in laboratories and classrooms. So this is a dynamic and durable partnership. And I’m very pleased that President Obama has nominated David Huebner to be the new ambassador for the United States to New Zealand and Samoa. If confirmed, I am confident that he will help to strengthen and deepen our partnership even further…( more / full text / video ) |
| |
| - On the Record
- |
|
"As America's first Pacific president, I promise you that this Pacific nation will strengthen and sustain our leadership in this vitally important part of the world." President Obama, Nov 14, Tokyo
|
| - Education Week
- |
|
| - Follow Us
- |
|
The U.S. Mission to New Zealand is tweeting
@us_mission_nz 
for Visa and Consular announcements, news from the Embassy, latest from Washington and more
|
| - White House 2.0
- |
|
|
|
