10 January 2002

Treasury's O'Neill to Attend Afghan Aid Conference in Japan

Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill will travel to Tokyo later this month to take part in an international conference on helping Afghanistan's economic recovery, according to a January 10 Treasury Department news release.

O'Neill will attend the International Conference on Reconstruction Assistance to Afghanistan January 21-22. The conference will assess Afghanistan's funding needs and strengthen the international support for helping that nation to recover from the years of misrule by the Taliban regime, which was supported by the terrorist organization al Qaeda.

The United States -- along with Japan, the European Union and Saudi Arabia -- chairs a steering group of donor countries, which has organized the conference.

Secretary O'Neill will be pursuing President Bush's commitment to assist in rebuilding Afghanistan's economy, according to the news release.

The Treasury Department and the State Department represent the United States on the Steering Group. The Tokyo conference follows meetings held in Washington and Brussels in recent months.

O'Neill will meet with Japanese officials after the conference to exchange views on international economic issues.

Following is the text of the news release:

Rebuilding Afghanistan, discussions with Japanese political and economic leaders are on Tokyo agenda.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill will travel to Tokyo January 20-24 to meet with senior Japanese leaders and to represent the United States with Secretary of State Colin Powell at an international conference on the economic future of Afghanistan. The visit will give Secretary O'Neill the opportunity to complete a visit that was halted due to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

The aim of the International Conference on Reconstruction Assistance to Afghanistan, to be held on January 21-22, is to refine assessments of Afghanistan's funding needs for reconstruction and development, and to reinforce the political and financial support of the international community. Secretary O'Neill and other U.S. officials will pursue President Bush's commitment to assist in the reconstruction of Afghanistan's economy.

The conference is organized by a Steering Group of donor countries co-chaired by the United States, Japan, the European Union and Saudi Arabia. The Treasury Department and the State Department represent the United States on the Steering Group. The Tokyo conference follows meetings held in Washington and Brussels in recent months.

Secretary O'Neill will remain in Tokyo for a series of meetings with senior Japanese government officials. Secretary O'Neill will exchange views on international financial issues of mutual interest and on the respective economic outlook and policies in the United States and Japan.

Secretary O'Neill will also deliver a lunchtime address at the National Press Center in Tokyo on Wednesday, January 23, 2002. He will return to Washington on Thursday, January 24.

John Taylor, Treasury Under Secretary for International Affairs, will accompany Secretary O'Neill in Tokyo.