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On December 14, 2017, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe attended the third meeting in FY2017 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 formulation of the budget for FY2018 and local government finance measures.

The Prime Minister said in his opening address,

“Today is the third meeting in FY2017 of the Forum for Consultations between the National and Regional Governments. We will mainly discuss the formulation of the budget for FY2018 and local government finance measures, especially focusing on measures to address the declining birth rate, which is one of the greatest challenges facing Japan.

The Cabinet recently approved a new economic policy package for tackling the challenge of a declining birthrate and aging population that will promote revolutions in productivity and human resources development as two wheels of a cart.

In the three years leading up to 2020, we will encourage bold investments in human resources and facilities, and dramatically boost productivity. Furthermore, looking toward 2020, we will use the budget for our children’s future, and greatly transform the social security system into one that is oriented to all generations.

In formulating the budget for FY2018, we will work steadily towards realizing fiscal soundness, while also creating a focused budget that is aligned with this basic philosophy. 

Upholding the basic position that Japan will not have vitality unless its regions do as well, we will work together with local public entities to overcome the challenge of a declining birthrate and aging society, fully harness the talented human resources and the knowhow of the regions, and pave the way for the future of Japan.

Additionally, we will accelerate local initiatives and proactively support efforts to vitalize local economies in the areas of information, human resources, and finance, so that people in the regions can experience firsthand the virtuous cycle of growth and distribution.

Based on our stance of listening carefully to the opinions of the regions, the Abe Cabinet will continue to advance policies while fully taking into account the views you share with us today.”