Okada eager to improve English language skills

TOKYO, Oct. 6 Kyodo -
Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada shyly admitted Tuesday that he is eager to
improve his English language skills by listening to tapes after making his
first diplomatic trip to New York as foreign minister in late September.
''U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Australian Foreign Minister
Stephen Smith were having a chat, and I joined in. And I hoped I could join in
such conversation in a better way,'' Okada, who was educated at the University
of Tokyo as well as Harvard University, told a regular press conference.
''I'm busy and can't do much, but I think I should try to listen to tapes as
much as possible,'' the 56-year-old minister added.
Okada made the remarks as he was asked about his Sept. 28 comments on his blog,
in which he noted that he ''felt the need to acquire (greater) English language
ability.''
Shortly after being appointed as foreign minister, Okada accompanied Prime
Minister Yukio Hatoyama to New York to attend a series of international
conferences and to hold talks with Clinton and his counterparts from other
countries.
Okada also said he believes that interpreters should be used at official meetings.
==Kyodo