TOKYO (AFP) — Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda has posted his first English-language message on the video-sharing website YouTube as his country seeks greater diplomatic clout on the international stage.
In his message for New Year, Fukuda says Japan will play a leading role in helping solve the challenges facing the world.
"We have long sought the emergence of a better world through advancement in science and the growth of economy," the 71-year-old bespectacled premier says slowly and steadily.
"Of these challenges, those that concern the environment seriously affect all who live on this Earth.
"Japan's mission is to play a major role in this area," he says.
Fukuda's message (www.youtube.com/watch?v=SwtDu1KDYo4) was posted on the "YouTube LDP Channel" which was launched in mid-December by the ruling conservative Liberal Democratic Party.
The LDP has not explained why it added an English message to the website which already has 22 other clips, all in Japanese.
Fukuda and his immediate predecessors Shinzo Abe, who stepped down in September, and the popular Junichiro Koizumi, have sought a bigger international presence for Japan, which suffers from a lack of diplomatic clout despite its economic superpower status.
Koizumi sent ground troops to Iraq on a non-combat logistical mission in 2003, the first Japanese military deployment since World War II in a country where fighting was still under way.
Fukuda has also taken over a weekly email magazine, which was started by Koizumi in both Japanese and English.
The LDP was the first Japanese political party to open an official YouTube channel. The Social Democratic Party has followed suit.
"We expect both extremes -- our supporters and critics -- to access the channel," LDP multi-media director Taro Kono earlier told reporters. "We wish to have a wider section of people to familiarise themselves with politics."
In his message for New Year, Fukuda says Japan will play a leading role in helping solve the challenges facing the world.
"We have long sought the emergence of a better world through advancement in science and the growth of economy," the 71-year-old bespectacled premier says slowly and steadily.
"Of these challenges, those that concern the environment seriously affect all who live on this Earth.
"Japan's mission is to play a major role in this area," he says.
Fukuda's message (www.youtube.com/watch?v=SwtDu1KDYo4) was posted on the "YouTube LDP Channel" which was launched in mid-December by the ruling conservative Liberal Democratic Party.
The LDP has not explained why it added an English message to the website which already has 22 other clips, all in Japanese.
Fukuda and his immediate predecessors Shinzo Abe, who stepped down in September, and the popular Junichiro Koizumi, have sought a bigger international presence for Japan, which suffers from a lack of diplomatic clout despite its economic superpower status.
Koizumi sent ground troops to Iraq on a non-combat logistical mission in 2003, the first Japanese military deployment since World War II in a country where fighting was still under way.
Fukuda has also taken over a weekly email magazine, which was started by Koizumi in both Japanese and English.
The LDP was the first Japanese political party to open an official YouTube channel. The Social Democratic Party has followed suit.
"We expect both extremes -- our supporters and critics -- to access the channel," LDP multi-media director Taro Kono earlier told reporters. "We wish to have a wider section of people to familiarise themselves with politics."
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