【英语国际】日本外相前原诚司谈干预日圆

Q: How does Japan justify its recent yen intervention?

A: In the discussion between President Obama and Prime Minister Kan yesterday there was talk about the renminbi. President Obama said to Prime Minister Kan that the yuan should be revalued. On the other hand, with respect to the Japanese yen, the yen has strengthened, more than indicated by the actual strength of the Japanese economy. There (were) also some speculative moves. So with a very strong determination on the part of the Japanese government, any further appreciation of the yen should be stopped. And with such a strong determination, intervention took place. Going forward, there may be a possibility for the Japanese government to show its very determined intent. Even so, Japan (would) maintain a very close coordination with the United States and European countries and will explain the position of Japan.

Q: You have been on the job seven days ... Are you concerned about the impact of the turnover of governments in Japan in recent years - and that the fisherman incident could give the world a sense that Japan is weaker?

A: I believe there are three major challenges that Japan is faced with. First, Japan's population started declining in 2004. Number two, the declining birth rate and aging of the population is occurring at a very high speed. Third, Japan has a massive amount of budget deficit. Because the Liberal Democratic Party left this situation as it was, there was a change of government. We must overcome this situation. We are no longer in a position of an opposition party criticizing what is occurring. I believe key words here are economic growth.

If you go too far in pursuing fiscal reconstruction, there is a possibility that the economic situation deteriorates. So you should try to firstly focus on economic growth and if possible this economic growth should be without fiscal expenditures to the extent possible. We should try to minimize fiscal spending as we try to achieve economic growth. Therefore, Japan should seriously tackle such issues as the reform of regulations and should also work on (free-trade agreements) and (economic partnership agreements). What I said in the press conference immediately after assuming this position of foreign minister is that I will pursue the economic foreign policy. That is promotion of (economic partnership agreements) and (free trade agreements). And we should also strengthen cooperation and coordination with countries in order to secure necessary natural resources and food.

We should also export Japan's high technology to countries abroad, including the expressways, high-speed networks, water and sewage systems, and nuclear power stations. I would like to place the topmost priority on economic growth as I pursue economic diplomacy.

Q: Thank you very much for your time.

以下是《华尔街日报》专访日本外务大臣前原诚司(Seiji Maehara)实录节选的中文翻译。这是前原诚司9月17日上任以来首次接受媒体专访，采访用英文进行。

问：日本近期干预日圆的理由是什么？

答：周四奥巴马总统和菅直人首相会晤时谈及人民币问题。奥巴马总统对菅直人首相说，人民币应当重估。另一方面，关于日圆，它的走强幅度已经超出日本经济的真正实力所示。还存在一些投机行动。因此日本政府下了很大的决心，决定阻止日圆进一步升值。在这样的决心之下才进行了干预。未来日本政府还有可能显示出其十分坚定的意图。虽然如此，日本将继续保持与美国和欧洲各国的密切合作，并解释日本的立场。

问：您已上任七天……你是否担心日本政府近年频频更迭的影响──以及此次中国船长事件可能让世界觉得日本更软弱了？

答：我认为日本面临着三大挑战。首先，日本人口从2004年开始下降。第二，出生率下滑和人口老龄化的速度非常之快。第三，日本有很高的预算赤字。由于自民党对这种情形听之任之，政府才出现了更迭。我们必须克服这种状况。我们已不再是抨击现状的在野反对党。我认为关键在于经济增长。

如果财政变革力度过大，经济形势有可能恶化。因此应当试着首先关注经济增长，在可能的情况下，经济增长应当尽可能地不增加财政开支。我们应当在极力实现经济增长的同时尽量减少财政开支。因此日本应当严肃应对机构改革等问题，同时还要致力于（自由贸易协定）和（经济合作伙伴协定）等。我在就任外务大臣之后的新闻发布会上说过，我会遵循经济外交政策。也就是要促进（经济合作协定）以及（自由贸易协定）。我们还应当加强与各国的合作，以获得必需的自然资源和粮食。

我们还应当向海外出口日本的高新技术，包括新干线技术、高速网络、饮水和下水系统以及核电站。在进行经济外交之时，我会将经济发展放在首要位置。

问：谢谢您拨冗接受采访。

答：乐意之至。

（本文版权归道琼斯公司所有，未经许可不得翻译或转载。）