[Provisional Translation]

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe attended the third meeting in FY2015 of the Forum for Consultations between the National and Regional Governments at the Prime Minister’s Office.

During the meeting, discussion took place on the budget request for FY2016 and regional fiscal measures, as well as the creation of a society with the dynamic engagement of all citizens, regional vitalization, and decentralization reform.

The Prime Minister said in his opening address,

“This is the third time we have held this meeting during this fiscal year. I want to continue to work on policy issues related to the regions while listening carefully to the opinions of everyone here.

As a result of the ‘three arrows’ of Abenomics, the Japanese economy has reached the point where it is no longer experiencing deflation. We will strengthen our efforts further and work on structural issues, such as the aging of society and the declining birthrate, while cementing our progress toward the largest GDP in postwar history of 600 trillion yen.

Recently, the National Council for Promoting the Dynamic Engagement of All Citizens compiled a set of urgent policies. We will formulate the supplementary budget and the budget for the next fiscal year, and take a strong first step toward the creation of a society in which all one hundred million-plus citizens are each dynamically engaged.

We will promote regional vitalization in close collaboration with efforts to realize a society in which all one hundred million-plus citizens are each dynamically engaged. We will establish new forms of subsidies in the budget for the next fiscal year, fully mobilize policies related to such matters as tax systems and National Strategic Special Zones, and provide active support for the advanced initiatives of municipalities.

Concerning decentralization reform as well, I want to approve a new system within the year related to the long-standing unresolved issue that is the form of the transfer of authority over Hello Work. We will also continue to promote strong and steady reform on the other proposals as well.

Today as well, I hope to hear frank opinions from the regions. As has been the case to date, I hope to continue to thoroughly reflect all viable ideas from among the opinions you express. Thank you.”