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On October 10, 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,
 
“Today’s Liaison Meeting is the first one to be held with the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito under the new structures. I would like to fulfil the mandate given to us by the people of Japan with the Government and the ruling parties cooperating even more closely than before to conduct statecrafts and deliver results. I ask for your continued support and cooperation to that end.
 
As Japan heads towards a historic turning point, we will tackle head on the declining birthrate and aging population and turbulent international situations, which should truly be called a national crisis. With our eyes on the future, we will continue to move forward boldly to build a new Japan. In the latest Cabinet reshuffle, I assembled the qualified personnel to achieve that. We will exert every effort in close cooperation with the ruling parties.
 
Disaster response, disaster prevention, and disaster mitigation are pressing challenges that we should deal with urgently. This summer, we suffered from severe damages and loss caused across the Japanese archipelago by a series of natural disasters including the earthquake in the northern part of Osaka, the heavy rains in western Japan in July, Typhoon No. 21,^* and the Hokkaido Eastern Iburi Earthquake. Once again, I would like to express my heartfelt condolences for the victims who passed away due to these disasters, and my sympathies to all who have been affected by them.
 
Along with our maximum efforts for the recovery and reconstruction of the areas affected by these disasters, we decided to immediately compile a supplementary budget to install air-conditioning to prevent heatstroke, put in place safety measures for concrete walls that are at risk of collapsing, and other measures with the highest priority at facilities such as elementary and junior high schools.
 
We are advancing the budget compilation with the aim of submitting it at the upcoming extraordinary Diet session. I would like to ask for the utmost understanding and cooperation of ruling parties.
 
From October 16 to 20, I will visit Spain and France, and also attend the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) in Belgium. Making the most of the opportunity presented by this meeting, which brings together the leaders of Asian and European countries once every two years, I will seek understanding for Japan’s position on various matters, such as the North Korean issues and other international situations, the strengthening of the economic order based on free and fair rules, and improving the connectivity among Asia and Europe.
 
We are making the final adjustments to the itinerary with the aim that, circumstances permitting, I will visit China in the latter half of the week after next. I will meet with H.E. Mr. Xi Jinping, President of the People’s Republic of China, and H.E. Li Keqiang, Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China, and engage in frank and open discussions with them on the Japan-China relations as well as the regional and international situation, including the North Korean issue. I hope that this visit to China will deepen the mutual trust between the leaders of the two countries and further promote various cooperation in every field as well as elevate the relationship between Japan and China to a new height..  
 
The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to Distinguished Professor Tasuku Honjo of Kyoto University this year. Not only is this a matter of great pride for Japan, Professor Honjo’s wonderful research results also give hope or light to many cancer patients and benefit the entire human race. The Government of Japan will continue to provide firm support to unique and diverse research and strongly promote the development of human resources in the field of research, so as to sow the seeds of innovation.
 
While listening closely to the voices of the people of Japan, I would like the Government and the ruling parties to work as one to deliver results. I look forward to continuing to work with all of you.”
 
^*Typhoon Jebi