U.S. Relations With the People's Republic of China (2008)

U.S. Department of State

Remarks to Media

Christopher R. Hill, Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Tokyo, Japan
June 20, 2008

QUESTION: How was your meeting with Mr. Koumura?

ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL: We had a very good meeting with Mr. Koumura. I think we have really shown, not only in the last two days but also a few weeks before, that this trilateral process -- which has been sort of reborn -- is actually working very well. I think the coordination among Japan, the ROK, and U.S. is very good now, and we consider that a very positive development in the Six Parties. And I think it's a process that will strengthen the Six Parties.

So we had a very good discussion with the Foreign Minister about that, and we discussed how we see the way ahead. I told him I thought it was useful not only to look at the way ahead but also to review some of the progress we've made, because there has been progress in the Six Parties.

So tonight I'll go to China, and I'll see Mr. Wu Dawei, and I think this is an important moment for the Six Parties, an important moment for China in its position as chair of the Six Parties, to try to move ahead. So we'll see how we do.

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