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CNN Live Saturday

President Bush Meets with Japanese Prime Minister

Aired June 30, 2001 - 16:04   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BRIAN NELSON, CNN ANCHOR: President Bush and Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi called their meeting today a frank and open discussion. It is the Japanese leader's first overseas trip since taking office. Camp David offered a more relaxed atmosphere for talks which covered economic, environmental and defense issues, and CNN White House correspondent Kelly Wallace has the latest now from Smithsburg, Maryland -- Kelly.

KELLY WALLACE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, hi there, Brian. This was the first face-to-face meeting between the two men and it was really billed as a chance for the two men to get to know one another, and senior White House advisers told reporters that this was a, quote, "fantastic meeting." They believe it was a huge success, saying that the two men were definitely able to develop a relationship.

As you mentioned, Camp David chosen as the site for this meeting, an informal location in the Maryland mountains; a chance, again, for the two men to get to know one another. The Japanese prime minister came here looking for one very important thing, trying to get President Bush's full endorsement of his plan to fix Japan's ailing economy by cleaning up the country's troubled banking system, and the Japanese prime minister got exactly what he wanted.

Here's Mr. Bush offering strong support for the Japanese leader's plans.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I have no reservations the economic reform agenda that the prime minister is advancing. He talks about tackling some difficult issues that some leaders in the past refused to address.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WALLACE: And the president giving the Japanese prime minister his strong support for a plan that could mean short-term low growth in Japan for a few years, which could have a negative impact on the slowing economy in the U.S.

Mr. Bush also gave the Japanese leader a couple of other things. He gave him a leather jacket and also a baseball, the two men sharing a love of the game of baseball. Again, they did seem to develop a strong personal relationship. There are, though, of course, Brian, some areas where they don't exactly see eye-to-eye.

One of those areas includes global warming. Mr. Bush still refuses to support the international treaty which was negotiated in Japan to reduce global warming, but even on this point, the Japanese leader seemed to be focusing on the positive. He said he was not disappointed by the president's position, and he pledged that the two countries would begin working together to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

So, Brian, if you listen to the two leaders, you listen to their aides, they say this was a huge success. The two men will meet again next month at the summit of the G7 leaders, plus Russia, and then Mr. Bush expected to travel to Japan this fall -- Brian.

NELSON: All right, thank you, Kelly. CNN's Kelly Wallace in Smithsburg, Maryland.

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