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The Prime Minister in Action

First Meeting of State Ministers and Commemorative Photograph Session

November 2, 2017

Photograph of the commemorative photograph session

Photograph of the commemorative photograph session

  • Photograph of the commemorative photograph session
  • Photograph of the Prime Minister delivering an address (1)
  • Photograph of the Prime Minister delivering an address (2)
  • Photograph of the Prime Minister delivering an address (3)

Photograph of the Prime Minister delivering an address (1)

Photograph of the Prime Minister delivering an address (1)

Photograph of the Prime Minister delivering an address (2)

Photograph of the Prime Minister delivering an address (2)

Photograph of the Prime Minister delivering an address (3)

Photograph of the Prime Minister delivering an address (3)

On November 2, 2017, the State Ministers for the Fourth Abe Cabinet were determined during the Cabinet meeting.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe attended the attestation ceremony for the State Ministers at the Imperial Palace. The Prime Minister then returned to the Prime Minister’s Office, where he held a commemorative photograph session and then attended the first meeting of State Ministers.

In his opening remarks, the Prime Minister said,

“I would like to offer some remarks to the meeting of the State Ministers.

In this general election, the ruling coalition party of the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito received a strong vote of confidence from the people, and will shoulder the responsibility of administering the Government for the third time following on from three years ago and five years ago.

To fulfil the mandate given to us by the people, and deeply mindful of the importance of this responsibility, I will humbly exert my full efforts in the sincere management of the administration and push forward in the execution of policies. 

At yesterday’s Cabinet meeting, I gave instructions to draw up a new policy package. We will tackle our biggest barrier of the declining birthrate and aging population using revolutions in productivity and in developing human resources like two wheels on the same axle.

Positioning the three years until 2020 as the time for the productivity revolution and period for intensive investment, we will mobilize all measures to greatly boost productivity, and through this strengthen momentum for wage increases and aim for an exit from deflation.

For our children and their limitless potential, we will revise the way in which consumption tax revenues are used to make a concerted effort to advance the free provision of early childhood education, and make higher education free for children who are truly in need, to take decisive action for the human resources development revolution.

We will boldly commit government resources to people raising children and to children, including achieving zero children on waiting lists for childcare facilities and securing necessary caregiving personnel. Through this, we will greatly shift Japan’s social security system to become one that is oriented to all generations and provides peace of mind to both the elderly and young people.

In regard to heightening tensions surrounding North Korea, backed by the confidence of the people of Japan, we will cooperate with the international community and advance strong diplomacy. Using the resolute strength of our diplomacy, we will resolve the North Korean nuclear and missile issues as well as the abduction issue. We will resolutely protect the lives and peaceful livelihoods of the people of Japan in any situation. This is our resolve.

I ask each State Minister to continue to dedicate full efforts in your respective fields so that we can advance politics and produce results in response to these situations that should truly be called national crises.

Working closely together with Parliamentary Vice-Ministers, I also ask that you build sound relationships of trust with the bureaucracy under you, create an environment in which all ministries and agencies can fully harness their capabilities, support Ministers, and manage national politics.

I hope that you will each fully exercise your respective strengths as you fulfil your duties, working as one and giving your utmost to pursue politics for the people and the nation.”

 

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