• 
• 
• 

On June 2, 2021, the Prime Minister attended the first meeting in fiscal year 2021 of the Forum for Consultations between the National and Local Governments at the Prime Minister’s Office.

At the meeting, the participants held consultations on the formulation of the Basic Policy on Economic and Fiscal Management and Reform 2021 and other matters, as well as the response to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
 
The Prime Minister said in his opening address,
 
 “I would like to thank the representatives of the Six Local Government Organizations for attending this meeting. I also extend my heartfelt appreciation for your daily efforts to tackle COVID-19.
 
Due to the extension of the declaration of a state of emergency the other day, the declaration is currently effective in ten prefectures, and eight other prefectures implement priority measures to prevent the spread of disease. We will take thorough measures tailored to local circumstances to curb the level of infections in each area. With regard to vaccines, the trump card among our countermeasures, the national and local governments will work as one to exert all-out efforts in order to administer vaccines to all citizens who wish to receive inoculations at the earliest possible time. I ask for your continued cooperation.
 
Meanwhile, this year’s Basic Policy sets out taking mainly on the four challenges of the realization of a green society, the acceleration of digitalization, the development of vibrant local communities, and the realization of a society friendly to child-bearing and child-raising, in order to bring solutions to long-standing problems and achieve a powerful growth, while first giving the highest priority to the response to COVID-19, with the post-COVID-19 era in mind.
 
Today, I would like to hear your candid views in order to advance the development of vibrant local communities, among other things.”