German foreign minister pledges support for Japanese reconstruction

Apr 2, 2011, 13:05 GMT

German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle (R) shakes hands with his Japanese counterpart Takeaki Matsumoto prior to their talks at Matsumoto\'s office in Tokyo on April 2, 2011. Westerwelle is in Tokyo on a one-day visit. EPA/YOSHIKAZU TSUNO/POOL

Tokyo - Japan's economic recovery after last month's catastrophic earthquake, tsunami and nuclear crisis will have the full support of Germany, Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle promised during a visit Saturday.

'Japan can count on Germany as a partner here as well,' said the German foreign minister, pointing out the multiple ties between the two countries.

Westerwelle, who visited three weeks after the disaster, is one of the first Western diplomats to make his way to Japan in the earthquake's aftermath.

During talks with Japanese Foreign Minister Takeaki Matsumoto, Westerwelle endorsed new efforts to reach a free trade agreement between Japan and the European Union. Matsumoto promised the international community 'great transparency' in Japan's reaction to the nuclear catastrophe in Fukushima.

'We offered help,' said Westerwelle. 'But we don't want to pressure them. Japan is, in its own right, a very successful and proud country. We completely respect that Japan lays great store in its own strength.'

The Japanese nuclear crisis has had serious repercussions in German politics, with the government temporarily putting on hold a plan to extend the lifespan of German nuclear power plants in the wake of the news out of Fukushima.

'We've agreed to a moratorium. We will use the time during that moratorium to consider all questions about energy policy, and most certainly about security,' said Westerwelle.

Many Germans have been sceptical of the anti-nuclear sentiments of Westerwelle's Free Democrats and Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democrats post-Fukushima, coming as they have after a lengthy period of backing nuclear power in Germany.

But Westerwelle, who is also facing a leadership challenge within his own party, said none of that mattered during his visit to Japan.

'This is about showing to Japan that, in these times, it also has friends in Europe in the form of us Germans.'

Nevertheless, several members of Westerwelle's entourage, which had just been in China, opted to stay in Beijing rather than accompany Westerwelle on his four-hour visit to Tokyo.

Even Westerwelle's visit to the German embassy in Tokyo was a pared back affair, since the bulk of embassy staff have taken up operations in southern Osaka.

Westerwelle opted not to travel to the stricken Fukushima plant, saying he did not want to engage in 'catastrophe tourism.'

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