Liaison Meeting of the Government and Ruling Parties

[Provisional translation]

On March 8, 2024, Prime Minister Kishida attended a Liaison Meeting of the Government and Ruling Parties at the Prime Minister’s Office.
 
In his opening remarks and on the topics of the Noto Peninsula Earthquake and diplomacy, Prime Minister Kishida said:
 
“On March 2, the FY2024 budget passed the House of Representatives. I would like to express my heartfelt appreciation for the efforts of members of the ruling parties and other people concerned. I am confident that the passage would be a major step forward in vigorously advancing the recovery and reconstruction of the areas affected by the Noto Peninsula Earthquake, increasing wages, and breaking completely away from deflation.
 
On February 24, I paid my second visit to the disaster-hit areas, visiting evacuation centers and quake-hit sites in Anamizu Town and Wajima City, Shiroyone Senmaida rice terraces, the Port of Wajima, and Wajima’s Asaichi Street, among others, and held a small group talk with people in local industries.
 
On March 1, or two months since the disaster, I gave instructions to accelerate the construction of temporary housing and carry out other measures in the Headquarters for Supporting Recovery and Reconstruction. At the same time, we decided on the use of 116.7 billion yen in total, combined with fiscal measures funded by the special account, as the third allocation of reserve funds, and I issued directions on its swift implementation.
 
Based on the principle that we will do everything within our power, we will continue to closely work together with the affected municipalities and commit ourselves to realizing the return of disaster victims and recovery of the quake-hit areas in a responsible manner until we achieve them.
 
On March 11, or the 13th anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake, I will visit Fukushima Prefecture and attend a memorial ceremony hosted by the prefectural government, if circumstances permit. We will take the voices of people in the affected areas to heart, and the Government and the ruling parties will work as one toward reconstruction, with the strong determination that ‘without the reconstruction of Tohoku, there will be no revival of Japan.’
 
On February 19, I attended the Japan-Ukraine Conference for Promotion of Economic Growth and Reconstruction. Economic reconstruction of Ukraine is, so to speak, not only investment for the future of Ukraine but also investing in Japan and the whole globe. We will promote investments from the Japanese private sector to take action for creating employment in the country. After the conference, I held a meeting with Prime Minister Shmyhal of Ukraine and once again conveyed Japan’s policy of supporting the reconstruction of Ukraine with the international community.
 
On February 24, or the second anniversary of the start of Russia’s invasion against Ukraine, the G7 leaders held a video conference and affirmed that their countries will be united in strongly promoting sanctions against Russia and support for Ukraine.
 
With regard to the transfer of next-generation fighters as finished products to third countries, I directly explained the significance and necessity of the transfer at the Diet in order to gain understanding of the public. While the chairpersons of the Policy Research Councils (of the ruling parties) have actively continued discussions, the Government, on its part, will make explanation efforts to promote further understanding of the people.”