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On December 11, 2019, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe attended the third meeting in FY2019 of the Forum for Consultations between the National and Local Governments, held at the Prime Minister’s Office.
 
At the meeting, consultations were conducted on the formulation of the FY2020 budget and local finance measures.
 
The Prime Minister said in his opening address,
 
“I express my sincere appreciation to the representatives of the Six Local Government Organizations for your attendance at this meeting. In our discussion today, we will focus on the formulation of the FY2020 budget and local finance measures.
 
This year, large-scale natural disasters struck Japan one after another throughout its regions. Last week, we compiled a set of economic measures, which is based on the following three pillars: recovery and reconstruction from disasters and securing safety and peace of mind; intensive support to those who work on overcoming the downward risks of the economy; and  investment for the future as well as maintaining and improving economic vitality looking to the future beyond next year’s Olympic and Paralympic Games.
 
Under the concept of a 15-month budget, we aim to mix this fiscal year’s supplementary budget with the temporary special measures included in the budget for the next fiscal year accordingly and implement a seamless and effective fiscal policy. I ask for your understanding and cooperation in this respect.
 
The Abe Cabinet has provided strong support for the creative and innovative initiatives of local communities, through various means including the 100-billion-yen Regional Revitalization Promotion Grant. We have also expanded the Regional Vitalization Cooperation Volunteers initiative to 5,000 people, more than five times. Regional revitalization has thereby started progressing significantly.
 
Japan will not have vitality unless its regions do. There will be no future of Japan without the future of each region. In the second phase of the Comprehensive Strategy for Overcoming Population Decline and Vitalizing Local Economy, which will commence from next fiscal year, we will intensively work on the creation and expansion of the ‘population with ties,’ in addition to further strengthening our efforts to create attractive jobs and an environment where it is easy to get married, give birth, and raise children. Through these efforts, I intend to elevate our efforts on regional revitalization to a new stage.
 
We will fully incorporate today’s discussions and strongly promote policies, so I ask you all to provide your candid views today, as the voices on the ground from the respective regions.”