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On July 2, 2018, 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,
 
“The Imperial Household Agency announced a little while ago the informal engagement of Her Imperial Highness Princess Ayako with Mr. Kei Moriya. This is very excellent and cheerful news. I would like to express my sincere congratulations to the couple. I would like to offer them my heartfelt congratulations together with the people.
 
Today, I conferred the People’s Honor Award to Mr. Yuzuru Hanyu. Mr. Hanyu achieved a remarkable accomplishment in figure skating at the Winter Olympics. He brought dreams and wonderment to many Japanese people, and gave society bright hope and courage. I believe that he also sent a strong message to the disaster-affected regions undergoing reconstruction from the earthquake. I have high hopes for Mr. Hanyu’s further achievements in the future.
 
We continue to exert every possible effort for recovery and reconstruction while being fully aware of the feelings of those affected by the earthquake that occurred in Osaka on June 18 so that they can return to their daily lives at the earliest possible date. At the same time, we are swiftly responding to the issues that have become clear this time, such as measures to protect the safety of children and other matters.
 
In addition, child abuse has taken many young lives. We will fundamentally strengthen our efforts regarding this issue with the strong resolve of doing everything we can do, while setting our sights first on protecting the lives of children. To begin with, I intend to compile a set of emergency countermeasures starting from what we can do right now.
 
Furthermore, circumstances permitting, from July 11 to July 18, I would like to visit Belgium, France, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt.
 
In Brussels, I am to sign the Japan-EU EPA (Economic Partnership Agreement). This EPA will construct a high standard, free and fair economic framework best suited for the 21st century. It will create a huge economic zone with 600 million people and will constitute approximately 30 percent of the world’s GDP. This will be a new engine for Abenomics, which is expected to add approximately 5 trillion yen to Japan’s GDP and create approximately 290,000 jobs. Amid widening protectionist movements throughout the world, Japan will hold the flag for free trade as a standard bearer, waving high and powerfully to advance free trade.
 
In Paris, together with President Macron, I am also to attend the opening ceremony for Japonismes 2018, which will comprehensively introduce on an unprecedented scale and communicate Japanese culture to the world. In addition, I am also to attend the ceremony and parade for Bastille Day (French National Day) as a main guest.
 
I will visit Saudi Arabia and Egypt, both major Middle Eastern countries, together with a business mission. I hope to give momentum to expand our economic relations, and hold strategic dialogue on the various issues facing the regions and the world.
 
At the Diet, last week, we enacted the work style reform bills and the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)-related bills. I want to offer my gratitude for everyone’s hard work. With respect to the remaining bills, I intend to continue to make a thorough and detailed explanation and make every efforts to ensure the enactment of them during this Diet session. In this regards, I would like to ask your continuing cooperation.
 
The other day, we compiled the new Basic Policy and the Investments for the Future Strategy with intensive discussions by members of the ruling parties. We will materialize strong economic growth and fiscal consolidation following these policies.
 
In addition, at the beginning of this month, I hope to approve the Guidelines for Budget Requests for the next fiscal year in line with the Budget Overview to be compiled at the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy.
 
We will firmly produce results on a variety of issues. I would like to continue to work in close cooperation with everyone from the ruling parties and exert every possible effort to advance our policies forward. Thank you very much.”