Foley Exchange Meeting: May 2016

The Mansfield Foundation and the Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission (JUSFC) welcomed the first delegation of legislators to visit Washington under the new Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission Thomas S. Foley Legislative Exchange.  Seven members of Japan’s National Diet and four members of Korea’s National Assembly came to Washington for bilateral and trilateral meetings May 3-5.  On May 3, the Diet members learned about U.S. policy and policymaking and joined other lawmakers at a Capitol Hill reception.  During the bilateral session May 4, the Diet delegation met with political and Asia analysts and senior congressional staff for discussions on U.S. electoral and political affairs, Japan-U.S. issues before Congress, and priorities for key congressional committees.  A welcome dinner co-hosted by Japanese Ambassador Kenichiro Sasae and Korean Ambassador Ho Young Ahn May 4 opened the next part of the exchange – the trilateral program.  The U.S.-Japan-Korea Trilateral Dialogue began May 5 with an opportunity for the Japanese and Korean legislators to exchange views with former members of Congress and to discuss regional security challenges, shared regional priorities, and global economic prospects with senior policy experts and key executive branch officials.