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On October 6, 2020, the Prime Minister attended a Liaison Meeting of the Government and Ruling Parties at the Prime Minister’s Office.

The Prime Minister said in his opening address,

“Three weeks have passed since I was appointed as the Prime Minister and President of the Liberal Democratic Party. At the press conference after my appointment, I promised to the public that I will advance regulatory reforms, and create a ‘Cabinet that works for the People,’ getting rid of bureaucratic sectionalism, vested interests, and the notorious habit of following past precedents.

Firstly, the response to the novel coronavirus and economic recovery are the top priorities for the Government. At the recent meeting of the Novel Coronavirus Response Headquarters, I instructed to the Government to fully prepare screening and medical structures, and resume cross-border travels for economic recovery.

Regarding the agency in charge of digital transformation, we decided at a ministerial meeting that we would determine a basic policy by the end of this year and submit the relevant bills to the ordinary session of the Diet next year. We also decided that we will aim for the unification or standardization of business systems among local governments by the end FY2025, five years from now, since it has been pointed out for a long time that the fragmentation of business systems among municipalities disrupts the disbursement of benefits or provision of universal services.

For fertility treatment, I have instructed the relevant ministries and agencies to advance the expeditious review of insurance coverage, and in the meantime, expand the existing subsidization of the treatment.

In addition, on tourism and the agricultural reforms, which we are advancing for regional revitalization, we decided at the respective ministerial meetings to formulate a policy plan to recover tourism demand, which is showing a decline due to the impact of COVID-19, and a concrete strategy for Japan to establish itself as an agricultural product export nation, by the end of this year.

Furthermore, I have held telephone talks with the leaders of 13 countries and organizations, including the Honorable Donald J. Trump, President of the United States of America, President Xi Jinping of the People’s Republic of China, and H.E. Mr. Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, President of the Russian Federation. I feel that they have been fruitful. I also delivered an address at the General Debate of the UN General Assembly in a video-message format, communicating Japan’s contribution and multilateralism as well as its position to prioritize the abductions issue to the audience.

Under the strong solidarity of the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito, we will continue to listen sincerely to the voices of the people, and steadily deliver results for each and every issue. I ask for the continued cooperation and support of the ruling parties.”