[Provisional Translation]

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

At the meeting, an exchange of views took place with Dr. Fatih Birol, Executive Director of the International Energy Agency; Mr. Paul Stevens, distinguished fellow at Chatham House, the Royal Institute of International Affairs; and Mr. Wim Thomas, Chief Energy Advisor to Royal Dutch Shell.

The Prime Minister said in his opening address,

“I would like to make some remarks on the occasion of the holding of the sixth meeting of the International Finance and Economic Assessment Council.

Today we are joined by three experts from energy-related international organizations and think tanks in order to analyze the current state of energy in the world. I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to both of you for taking time out of your busy schedules to attend today’s meeting.

Since the start of the year, there is growing uncertainty about the global economy given the drop in crude oil prices and slowdown in China’s economy, among other factors. The Ise-Shima Summit will be held in just over a month and I believe that the current economic situation will be the major theme of discussion at the Summit.

As the country holding the G7 Presidency, Japan must play a firm leadership role in the global economy, especially in the face of this new challenge, given the policy coordination required of the G7 nations for achieving sustainable and robust global economic growth.

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