Deputy Secretary of State Thomas R. Nides will visit Tokyo, Japan December 15-16, 2011. While there, he will meet with Cabinet members and other senior officials to discuss Japan's reconstruction efforts, ongoing U.S. support for Japan's recovery, and bilateral economic engagement. Among other Japanese officials, he will meet with Foreign Minister Gemba, Reconstruction Minister Hirano, Minister of Environment Hosono, and also with American and Japanese business communities. His travel to Japan builds on other high-level visits by State Department officials in the past two months, reinforcing our close consultation and cooperation with the Government of Japan on a wide range of pressing bilateral, regional, and global issues.