April 17 - This week I am accompanying Special Representative Richard Holbrooke during his visit to Tokyo. He arrived here on Thursday to attend the Friends of Democratic Pakistan and Pakistan Donors Conferences that Japan is hosting. Ambassador Holbrooke's visit is a natural follow-up to Secretary Clinton's visit to Japan last February. During her visit she told Prime Minister Aso and Foreign Minister Nakasone that the Obama Administration was reviewing our policy in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and that we were interested in talking with Japan about ways to cooperate more closely. She told them that President Obama had nominated Richard Holbrooke, an experienced diplomat, to be the United States Special Representative to that region.

I was delighted to learn that Prime Minister Aso responded to Secretary Clinton's offer by telling President Obama, during their White House meeting in February that he had selected Ambassador Motohide Yoshikawa to serve as Japan's Special Representative. Soon thereafter Ambassador Yoshikawa and JICA President Ogata visited Washington for detailed discussions with Ambassador Holbrooke on Japan's extensive efforts to help Pakistan and Afghanistan. Since those meetings, the United States and Japan have engaged in an active diplomatic dialogue on how we can coordinate more effectively to help these two countries.

The United States much appreciates Japan's offer to host this major conference. We are impressed that Japan plans to announce a $1 billion assistance package to Pakistan over the next two years. The priorities of Japan's assistance package, which I understand will focus on anti-poverty measures and education, are very similar to our own. I wish Japan every success in hosting this conference and believe that it will provide one excellent example of our global partnership.

I am also very interested in hearing from you on your ideas for how we can work together to pursue common goals such as peace and stability in South Asia.

Until next time,

Jim