Prime Minister Shinzo Abe received a request from Mr. Hirokazu Nakaima, Governor of Okinawa Prefecture, at the Prime Minister's Office.

The Prime Minister said in his address,

"I recognize that the development and promotion of Okinawa is an issue for the entire government, with a heavy burden imposed on the people of Okinawa regarding the issue of the bases of the US Forces in Japan.
On top of that, Okinawa is the center of Asia, and also has the largest potential for growth; in other words, achieving a high fertility rate. Meanwhile, regarding the problem of the runway mentioned shortly before, I believe that Naha Airport should be a hub airport. There is no doubt that it is one of the bases of the Asian Gateway Initiative, in which tourism is promoted and the attractiveness of Japan is transmitted throughout the world. Therefore, hearing what you have said now, I would like to make the greatest possible effort."