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(UPDATE) Japanese ambassador at Press Club gala

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UPI

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Apr 3, 1998, 3:00:00 AM4/3/98

Japanese ambassador at Press Club gala

WASHINGTON, April 3 (UPI) - Japan's ambassador to the United States
has congratulated Washington's National Press Club on its 90th
anniversary and speculated on the state of the world in another 90
years.

Ambassador Kunihiko Saito told guests at tonight's anniversary gala
that when the club was founded in 1908, the United States was only one
of several great powers and Japan was emerging from the Japanese-Russo
War.

He said: ``Today, 90 years later, the United States is the undisputed
leader of the world. Japan is the second-largest economy in the world,
despite some current, and I hope minor, difficulties.''

Saito said the United States was fulfilling its responsibilities with
determination and fair-mindedness, ``and Japan seeks to be a reliable
ally.''

He said it would be interesting to observe the world in 2088. ``Will
the United States be the only superpower? Will Japan be the second-
ranking economy? Will the Treasury still be demanding that Japan
increase domestic consumption?''

He could take bets, he said, but no one present would be around to
collect.

The press club invited Saito to speak at the celebration because the
Japanese and British ambassadors spoke at the club's opening in 1908.

Britain's ambassador was unable to attend tonight's ceremony.
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