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In recent years, Japan has taken a series of import liberalization
measures, the most recent one of which was announced on October 21st
this year.
In this connection, I am happy to note that last Wednesday Prime
Minister Nakasone proposed and President Reagan agreed that a prepara-
tion for a new round of multilateral trade talks which follow up the
Tokyo round of trade negotiations should be facilitated.
Japan is now in the midst of a very rapid technological progress,
which is sometimes called a "technological explosion", in such fields
as super LSI, robotics, light fibre, new ceramics and bio-technology.
The transfer of industrial and management technology to other Asian
countries is one field which will assume increasing significance and
magnitude. During his trip to ASEAN countries in May this year, Prime
Minister Nakasone stressed the need for greater cooperation in the
field of transfer of technology, scientific research and human exchanges
especially exchanges of young people. Today, there is a healthy rise
in the interest in Asia among the Japanese, especially among the young
people. The exchange of people or cultural exchanges with the countries
in the region is one field which the Japanese government places a speciál
emphasis at present. It is expected that exchanges of people and
cultural ties between Japan and other Asian and Pacific countries will
be expanded substantially as years go by.
neighbours.
Japan today enjoys excellent relations with the Asian and Pacific
Prime Minister Nakasone's visit to Korea last January opened
up a new era of friendship and cooperation between Japan and Korea. On
the Korean Peninsula, tensions are still high across the demilitarized
zone. The efforts of the Republic of Korea and the presence of U.S.
forces in Korea are essential to the maintenance of peace and stability
on the peninsula. In order to lessen the tensions on the peninsula it
is necessary for the South and North to enter into dialogue. It is
regrettable that the North refuses to do so.
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