Bill Clinton: “Hashimoto of Japan and an Exchange With Reporters in Birmingham, United Kingdom May 15, 1998 President Clinton. Let me…”

“Hashimoto of Japan and an Exchange With Reporters in Birmingham, United Kingdom May 15, 1998 President Clinton. Let me say just very briefly that I'm delighted to have another chance to meet with Prime Minister Hashimoto. The partnership we have had with Japan is obviously one of the most important relationships the United States has had and will have in the future. I have invited the Prime Minister to come for an official visit in July, and I hope he will be able to come. We're working hard on a number of things. Our security relationship has been critical to both of us. Our people have been working together on a deregulation initiative, and they've made some significant progress. I hope we can discuss the situation in Indonesia, as well as the Indian nuclear tests. And I welcome the very strong statements and actions that the Prime Minister has taken in the wake of the nuclear tests. And finally let me say, it is very much in the interest of regional Asian economic development and the United States, long term, for Japan to have a strong and growing economy. And I believe that the economic package the Prime Minister has announced is significant and will have a positive impact. And I know he looks forward to implementing it. We believe that some steps will still have to be taken on the banking reform front, and I know that the Prime Minister has given that a lot of thought, and I look forward to discussing that with him.…”