JAPAN: New Zealand Prime Minister John Key says common Asian currency and climate change commitments in Tokyo.

Record ID: 465027

  • Title: JAPAN: New Zealand Prime Minister John Key says common Asian currency and climate change commitments in Tokyo.
  • Date: 31st October 2009
  • Summary: TOKYO, JAPAN (OCTOBER 30, 2009) (REUTERS) NEWS CONFERENCE WITH NEW ZEALAND PRIME MINISTER JOHN KEY REPORTERS LISTENING TO CONFERENCE (SOUNBITE) (English) NEW ZEALAND PRIME MINISTER JOHN KEY SAYING: "If there was an East Asian Community, then one argument is that it could involve a common currency between the 16 or so potential players. My own view is that while that is technically possible, I would see that as a very long term objective." REPORTER TAKING NOTES (SOUNBITE) (English) NEW ZEALAND PRIME MINISTER JOHN KEY SAYING: "Our discussions also traversed the topic of climate change. I note that Japan is going to go to Copenhagen with a minus 25 percent reduction target. New Zealand will also go to Copenhagen with a minus 10 to minus 20 percent target, which is quite aggressive we think." NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNBITE) (English) NEW ZEALAND PRIME MINISTER JOHN KEY SAYING: "We go into the situation with one of the highest levels of renewable energy already in place, three quarters of our energy is from renewable sources. And half of all of our emissions comes from agriculture, nitrate and methane emissions, which we have no solutions to this issue at this point." KEY SHAKING HANDS WITH MODERATOR
  • Embargoed: 15th November 2009 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Japan
  • Country: Japan
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVACRRMR8O2Z8JUD6DHQ95WTOI7Q
  • Story Text: New Zealand Prime Minister John Key says a common Asian currency would be a long term goal and added New Zealand is doing what it can ahead of the Copenhagen climate change conference.
    New Zealand Prime Minister John Key visiting Tokyo on Friday (October 30) said a common Asian currency, even if technically feasible, would be a long term objective.
    "If there was an East Asian Community, then one argument is that it could involve a common currency between the 16 or so potential players. My own view is that while that is technically possible, I would see that as a very long term objective," Key told reporters at a news conference in Tokyo.
    Key is in Tokyo for talks that could lead to the establishment of a Free Trade Agreement with Japan.
    With Japan pledging to cut its emissions by 25% in the leadup to the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, Key also said that New Zealand would follow suit.
    "Our discussions also traversed the topic of climate change. I note that Japan is going to go to Copenhagen with a minus 25 percent reduction target. New Zealand will also go to Copenhagen with a minus 10 to minus 20 percent target, which is quite aggressive we think," Key said when asked about the issue.
    However, he also pointed out that it is much harder for New Zealand to squeeze out emission cuts, as it already receives most of its energy from clean sources.
    "We go into the situation with one of the highest levels of renewable energy already in place, three quarters of our energy is from renewable sources. And half of all of our emissions comes from agriculture, nitrate and methane emissions, which we have no solutions to this issue at this point," Key added, clarifying that New Zealand would have a much harder time than some others of cutting emissions even further.
    Key will be in Tokyo until Sunday (November 1) and in addition to campaigning for a FTA agreement between Japan and New Zealand, he is also watching the Bledisloe Cup that is pitting New Zealand's All Blacks against Australia's Wallabies.
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