[Provisional Translation]

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held the fourth meeting of the International Finance and Economic Assessment Council at the Prime Minister's Office.

At the Council, an exchange of views with Professor Jean Tirole of Toulouse 1 Capitole University  took place.

The Prime Minister said in his opening address,

“I would like to say a few words on the occasion of the holding of the fourth meeting of the International Finance and Economic Assessment Council.

Today we are joined by Professor Jean Tirole of France, Professor at Toulouse 1 Capitole University, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences, and a highly respected international economist specializing in the fields of industrial organization theory and regulatory theory.

Professor Tirole, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to you for taking time out of your busy schedule to attend today’s meeting.

In today’s meeting, I ask that you share your analysis of the world economy.

The G7 Summit is set to take place next month in Ise-Shima. As chair of the Summit, Japan must fulfill its responsibilities given the policy coordination required of the G7 nations.

I would like Japan to lead global discussions on how it can contribute to the sustained and powerful growth of the global economy.

In preparation for the Summit, I would like to make today’s meeting an open and meaningful one. Thank you very much.”