[Provisional Translation]

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe attended the Liaison Meeting of the Government and Ruling Parties at the Prime Minister's Office.

The Prime Minister said in his opening address,

“It has been half a year since the Kumamoto Earthquake, and approximately two months since Typhoon No. 10 caused significant damage to Hokkaido and Iwate. Those affected by these disasters continue to put in extremely hard work. The Government will unite with affected municipalities to implement detailed support measures that will ensure that everything that can be done is done for the rebuilding of the lives of the affected and the restoration and reconstruction of agriculture as well as public works facilities and other essential infrastructure. I ask for the continued cooperation of the members of the ruling parties for these efforts.

Last Friday, deliberations on the TPP began in the Diet. I am grateful for the efforts of the ruling party members on this issue. More than anything else, it is important that we are committed to carefully explaining the TPP in front of the public. Moving forward with an even greater sense of urgency, we will continue to hold further discussions to carefully consider this matter. I hope that through such efforts, the Government and ruling parties can unite and work hard together toward the approval of the TPP at the Diet. I also want to facilitate discussions that can help to gain the approval of the public about this issue. I want to work to develop those conversations with an even greater sense of urgency, and I request your help with that.

Last Tuesday, we established the second supplementary budget of FY2016 to further promote investment for the future. I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for the efforts of the members of the ruling party on this, and request your cooperation moving forward as well. We will smoothly and steadily implement various economic policies, including the policies included in that supplementary budget, in order to further accelerate Abenomics and achieve maximum escape velocity in order to exit deflation.

Some weeks ago, the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to Tokyo Institute of Technology Honorary Professor Yoshinori Ohsumi. With this award, a Nobel Prize has now been offered to a Japanese researcher for three years in a row. I am overjoyed that Japan has been able to push global innovation forward and contribute to the world in fields such as biology and medicine. I hope that the Government and ruling parties will continue to work hard to develop academic research in Japan and to benefit the next generation of young researchers.

There are plans for visits to Japan soon by H.E. Mr. Rodrigo R. Duterte, President of the Republic of the Philippines; His Majesty King Abdullah II Ibn Al Hussein, King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan; H.E. Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi, State Counsellor of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar; and H.E. Mr. Nursultan Nazarbayev, President of the Republic of Kazakhstan. I hope to continue to contribute to global peace and prosperity through frank discussions on the various issues facing the international community with each leader.”