U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell urged Japan on Tuesday to accelerate its economic reforms, including bad-loan disposal, and get its economy on track so it can serve as an engine for global growth, Japanese Ambassador to the U.S. Ryozo Kato said.
Kato, who met Powell for the first time since taking up the post in Washington in late October, told reporters that Powell said the Japanese economy cannot be revived without reforms.
The U.S. will continue to support Japan's reform efforts, Kato quoted Powell as saying.
Kato said he briefed Powell about the loan disposal and other reform measures being taken by the Japanese government.
They also exchanged views on the decision last week by President George W. Bush to unilaterally withdraw from the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty.
The ambassador told Powell that Japan acknowledges the U.S. attempt to establish a new security framework and hopes it will help create a better international security environment.
Kato said Powell promised to stay in close contact with Japan on the issue.
The withdrawal from the treaty cleared the way for the U.S. to develop and deploy a national missile defense shield.
Kato said Powell expressed appreciation for Japan's cooperation in the U.S.-led campaign against terrorism and hopes to attend an international meeting in Tokyo next month on the reconstruction of Afghanistan.