Prime Minister R. Hashimoto talked with visiting President Jerry John Rawlings of the Republic of Ghana at his official residence.

President Rawlings pledged to "cooperate for success of the conference (in Kyoto, Japan) to stop global warming."

In response, Hashimoto explained his Administration's "3-point" Kyoto Initiative" and said "Japan will thereby continue to assist developing countries."

Visiting IMF managing director, Mr. Michel Camdessus, met Premier Hashimoto at his official residence and referred to the current financial unrest in Japan:
"For Japan to regain national and international confidence, a resolute Government action is on order. Some form of leverage, such as depositor protection or strengthened deposit protection system, is necessary," he said.

On the heel of the final agreement made between IMF and Korea (ROK) on financial assistance, managing director of IMF came to report it to the Japanese Government which had decided to loan $10 billion to Korea for the same purpose.

The site of the Kyoto Conference to deter global warming also hosted the 3rd meeting of charter countries (COP3) to set limits to green-house gas emissions on Dec. 1-11. On Dec. 8, Premier Hashimoto attended and declared a multilateral ministerial conference open. In his address he said:
"Each country, developed or developing, should not just pretend to cooperate but pay greatest possible efforts."

Premier Hashimoto discussed about Internet usage and applicability with visiting Chairman Bill Gates of Microsoft, world's largest PC software maker.

Mr. Gates reiterated his position that "Internet serves not only the business community but also other information networks, government functions and especially education systems."

Hashimoto suggested in return:
"It had better be made more user-friendly among the aged and the physically handicapped."

Premier Hashimoto met at his official residence President of Costa Rica, Mr. Figueres, who visited Japan to attend the Kyoto Conference to prevent further global warming. Two leaders exchanged opinions on the issue.

As a token of thanks for Japanese ODA (official development assistance), Costa Rican President reported to Premier that the ODA-funded regional industrial engineer education center for Central America in Costa Rica is getting on the right track.

"Japan will continue to assist Vietnamese socioeconomic reform program "(Doi Moi")," said Premier Hashimoto at his official residence to visiting Vietnamese Vice Premier and Foreign Minister, Mr. Nguyen Manh Cam --- the Japanese Government's formal expression of support for Vietnam's shift to a market economy.

Mr. Cam referred to the APEC talks in Vancouver, Canada, in November, that voted for inclusion of Vietnam in 1998, and said:
"Vietnam will also hopes to play an positive role in APEC."

The Board of Audit (an organ to Cabinet) surveyed about 38,700 Government-subsidized entities of the nation as to their balance sheets 1996, and its Director Shuro Hikida presented its report to Premier Hashimoto Dec. 12.

They include (besides Government Ministries and Agencies) special business and nonprofit organs, Japanese Railways, local autonomies, various associations and accredited schools. Of them all, about 3,400 were checked on site. The Board discovered a total of 350 cases of irregular tax-money usage amounting to some \22.1 billion, which it defined as "waste" or "improper."

The Government Reform Committee (chaired by Yotaro Iida) presented to Premier Hashimoto the final compilation of its opinions on deregulation, public/private sectors' "division of labor" and proposed setup of a new vigilant organ.

The Committee has worked for 3 years and puts an end to its role on Dec. 18, 1997. But its recommendations include a clause that prompts the Government to establish a "predominantly private, powerful organ" to keep up the reform process.

In an answer to this report, Hashimoto said:
"Discussions hereafter will regard this as a basis. We of the Government will be quick about deregulation."

Premier Hashimoto flew to attend a non-official "summit" talk among ASEAN countries in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

It marked the 30th anniversary of this Southeast Asian regional co-op system and was called "ASEAN+3" for Japan, China and Korea (ROK) joined it for the first time this time.

Participants discussed the financial and currency crises in the region.

Hashimoto expressed Japanese intentions - a "Hashimoto Initiative" -- to help form an international aid framework inclusive of IMF and to educate 20,000 Asian students in Japan for economic restructuring in ASEAN countries.

After talking with ASEAN leaders individually, Hashimoto also announced a joint communique to promote closer dialogues, regional peace and stability, economic cooperation, collective efforts on global issues and people-to-people and cultural exchange activities.

In an emergency press meeting, Premier Hashimoto announced this to be implemented in a supplementary budget as a "shot of tonic" to prop the slumping stock price index, faltering financial organs and other ill-fated constituents of Japanese economy.

The levy cut will be financed with an extra Government bond issue to relieve people with \1.4B in income tax and \0.6B in citizen tax.

Premier intends it to stimulate economy, wipe out the general pessimism and regain Japanese status as the leader of Asian economy.

On the morning of Dec. 23, the Olympic fire from Greece to set afire the grand torch of Nagano Winter Olympic Games arrived in Tokyo and, on the stretch of the trek, "paid a courtesy call" on Prime Minister R. Hashimoto.

It was brought to him by two couriers - Pres. Eishiro Saito of the Organizing Committee and figure skater Ms. Midori Ito, an Albertville silver medalist.

Given the torch, Hashimoto encouraged them to complete their task.

The fire baton is to be displayed at several sites in Tokyo, relayed then on 3 exhibition routes throughout mainland Japan from Jan. 6, 1998, and ultimately reach Nagano Olympic stadium where Ms. Midori will blaze its grand torch in the opening ceremony Feb. 7.

The fire will witness a 16-day streak of international events of winter sports for the ancient Olympic cause - world peace.