Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held the fifth meeting of the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy at the Prime Minister's Office.

Discussion took place on TPP and the short- and mid-term management of public finance.

Based on the discussion, the Prime Minister said,

"With regard to TPP, based on the results of the Japan-U.S. summit meeting, I would like to judge the best way in terms of national interests as early as possible as the Prime Minister, by also obtaining opinions from you today for reference.
As for the management of economy and public finance, we were able to make a rocket start with the 'three prongs' after the inauguration of the administration. Recently, there are also signs of deflationary expectations easing, and the real economy is starting to receive a positive impact. For future policy management, we are considering concentrating our efforts in the following points:
(1) to achieve results continuously in measuring up to the expectations of the people and the companies,
(2) especially, to put the urgent issues among the growth strategy immediately into practice, and
(3) to show specifically the way to realize both economic revitalization and fiscal soundness.
Particularly regarding the primary balance of national and local governments, we will aim to achieve the target of fiscal consolidation, namely, to reduce the ratio of fiscal deficit to GDP by half by FY2015, compared to FY2010, and achieve surplus by FY2020. I expect the earnest effort of Minister Amari and other relevant ministers.