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On January 19, 2019, Prime Minister Abe attended the First Trans-Pacific Partnership Commission held in Tokyo.
 
In his opening address, the Prime Minister said,
 
“I would like to offer my heartfelt welcome to the representatives of the TPP 11 (Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership) countries on your visit to Japan. On December 30 last year, the TPP 11 agreement entered into force. I am very pleased that Japan is holding the First TPP Commission and I have an opportunity to say a few words for you on this occasion.
 
An enormous economic zone with a population of 500 million people and GDP of 10 trillion dollars will be born. The TPP is the dawn of the century of the Asia-Pacific; historians in the future will certainly evaluate it in that way. I express my deep respect for the efforts being made until today by all of the people involved since more than ten years ago when the TPP was envisaged.
 
At this point, several member countries are still processing their designated domestic procedures for the entry into force of the agreement. I expect that these processes will be accelerated and the TPP 11 will be completed at the earliest possible time.
 
We must continue to move forward. We should actively spread the high-level, free and fair rules incorporated in this agreement to the world.
 
I wish to take a big step forward in this milestone First TPP Commission. I hope that the procedures for new members to join the TPP will be thoroughly developed.
 
Taking this opportunity, I would like to call on the world to take action; our doors are open to all countries and regions that agree with our principles and are ready to accept the high standards of the TPP. I hope many countries that seek free and fair trade will participate in this agreement.
 
Today, confidence in the international trade system is being greatly shaken. A quarter century has passed since the establishment of the World Trade Organization (WTO). The world economy is being globalized, sweeping away its national boundaries, and increasing its degree of interdependence. The emerging countries have achieved remarkable economic development, and digitalization of the economy has progressed rapidly. There are some concerns and dissatisfaction that the current system is incapable of catching up these rapid changes. Such concerns and complaints occasionally lead people to protectionism and create fierce discontent between countries.
 
In such circumstances, we must never turn back the clock. Under this strong determination, we have brilliantly concluded those difficult TPP negotiations and raised the flag for free trade high to the world. TPP is rather the pioneer of our efforts to squarely face with various concerns and dissatisfaction and evolve our free trade system by developing fair rules. We have created free and fair rules for the 21st century in a wide range of fields, including intellectual property, the environment, labor regulations, regulations for a level playing field for state-owned enterprises, and more. In particular, we have developed comprehensive and high-level rules for electronic commerce, which is achieving rapid growth. I believe that the fact we have clearly stipulated rules regarding the free flow of data will be a model for international rules going forward.
 
Furthermore, Japan will spread an economic zone based on free and fair rules to the world. This year, Japan assumes the G20 (Summit on Financial Markets and the World Economy) presidency and we will spare no effort towards strengthening the international trade system, including reform of the WTO.
 
I am determined to make every effort to work together hand-in-hand with all of the TPP partners gathered here as a standard-bearer for free trade going forward. Please, let’s open up a new era of free and fair trade together. Thank you very much for today.”