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[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,

“I wish you all a very happy New Year.

Last year, the ratio of job offers to job seekers exceeded 1.0 in all prefectures for the first time in history. The Abenomics economic policy implemented by the Government and ruling parties over the past four years is steadily producing results.

In addition, from the second half of last year, the world economy, which was an area of concern, has seen an upturn on the whole. With this backdrop, there are also promising signs for Japan’s economy.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, this year we will continue to resolutely release the three arrows of monetary policy, fiscal policy, and growth strategy, with the economy as our utmost priority.

At the end of last year, we received a recommendation on work style reform from the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and Komeito. I ask for your continuing cooperation for realizing a society where everyone is able to find engaging work.

There was a large fire in Itoigawa City in Niigata Prefecture at the end of last year. I would like to offer my sincere sympathy to everyone affected by this disaster.

The Government identified this incident as a ‘natural disaster,’ allowing the Act on Support for Reconstructing Livelihoods of Disaster Victims to be applied to a fire for the first time. With a sense of urgency, we will make maximum efforts to helping those affected by this disaster to restore and rebuild their lives and businesses.

I ask for the continuing cooperation of the members of the ruling parties in this matter.

Furthermore, at the end of last year, we completed the return of 4,000 hectares of the Northern Training Area of the U.S. Forces, which had been an issue for more than 20 years. With this area making up about 20% of the U.S. Forces’ facilities in Okinawa, this marks the largest return of lands since Okinawa was returned to Japan.

As for Futenma Air Station, the Supreme Court has made its decision, so faithfully following the settlement clause with Okinawa Prefecture, we will steadily move forward with its relocation to Henoko to fully complete the return of this land.

Ensuring the safe flights of U.S. Forces’ aircraft is a basic premise for the smooth stationing of the U.S. Forces in Japan. We will work closely with the U.S. side in taking all possible measures to achieve this.

We will continue to exert our utmost efforts to alleviate the impact of the bases on Okinawa.

Next week I intend to visit the Philippines, Australia, Indonesia, and Vietnam. I will have frank discussions with the leaders of each country, during which I will state that Japan will take on a leadership role and underscore the importance of collaboration between the major countries of the Asia-Pacific region for achieving regional peace and prosperity.

As regards diplomacy, at the end of last year, I visited Pearl Harbor in Hawaii to close out the year diplomatically by holding a summit meeting with President Obama and reviewing the efforts we have made together over the past four years, among other matters. I believe that I was able to demonstrate that the Japan-U.S. Alliance represents an unwavering bond that stands strong today and into the future.

I visited Pearl Harbor to pay respects to the fallen. Today, more than ever, the world needs the spirit of tolerance and the power of reconciliation. I believe we were able to convey this message to the world together with President Obama.

This year, too, I intend to advance diplomacy that takes a panoramic perspective of the world map, hoisting high the banner of Japan’s proactive contribution to peace. By doing so, we will firmly maintain world peace and stability as well as ensure the prosperity of Japan.

The next ordinary session of the Diet will be a Diet that paves the way for the future.

Under the budget for the next fiscal year, we will speed up our efforts to create an environment in which people can balance work and childcare, through improvements in the conditions for nursery school teachers and other measures. Also, we will further expand investments in our children’s future, with the creation of fund-type scholarships and other actions.

I ask for the continued cooperation of the members of the ruling parties so that we can pass the supplementary budget, next fiscal year’s budget and related bills as soon as possible. The Government will strive to provide careful and detailed explanations.

I hope to make 2017 a year that paves the way for the future of Japan by harnessing the integrated efforts of the Government and ruling parties built atop the stable political foundation of the LDP and Komeito. I look forward to working with all of you in the New Year.”