What's up around the Prime Minister

Wednesday, February 3
Discussion Group on Children Submits Proposals to Prime Minister

The Discussion Group on Children's Future and the World, a private advisory council to Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi, submitted to the prime minister the proposals arrived at in the course of its six meetings. The council was formed in December 1997 to respond to the prime minister's request to consider what is needed to produce Japanese people who can make their way in the world and to study the kind of international exchange and environment conducive to doing so. The proposals pointed out the importance of the family, schools, and social environment for cultivating children's qualities and developing their abilities and listed the tasks and policies required in each of these areas.


Monday, February 8
Prime Minister Attends Funeral of King Hussein of Jordan

Their Imperial Highnesses the Crown Prince and Crown Princess and Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi flew to Amman, Jordan, to attend the funeral of His Majesty King Hussein bin Talal of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan at Ragadan Palace. The previous day the prime minister had issued a statement on the death of the king. After the funeral the prime minister conveyed his condolences to King Hussein's successor, His Majesty King Abdullah bin El Hussein. He also met briefly with President Bill Clinton of the United States, President Jacques Chirac of France, and other leaders.


Thursday, February 11
Prime Minister Attends Ceremony to Celebrate National Foundation Day

Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi attended the National Ceremony to Celebrate National Foundation Day at Hibiya Public Hall, Tokyo. The ceremony was organized by the Foundation for Celebrating National Holidays and supported by the Prime Minister's Office and other bodies. In his remarks, the prime minister said, "We need to build a new system to deal with the twenty-first century. We must pursue a third reform, following on those after the Meiji Restoration [of 1868] and World War II."


Saturday, February 20
Prime Minister Meets with Residents of Tama New Town

As part of his series of "dialogue gatherings" to meet the people, Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi visited Tama New Town in Tama City, Tokyo, and exchanged views with shopkeepers and other residents. The purpose of this dialogue gathering was to hear residents' views firsthand so that they could be incorporated in urban and housing policies.


Saturday, February 20
Prime Minister Observes Preparations to Distribute Shopping Coupons

Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi visited the Yokohama City Office to observe the city's preparations to distribute local-area shopping coupons to elderly residents and residents with children under 16 years of age. This initiative, being implemented by municipal governments throughout the nation, is aimed at stimulating consumption. Yokohama will be distributing shopping coupons to some 710,000 people, among the largest eligible groups in any municipality. Yokohama Mayor Hidenobu Takahide explained that shopping coupons would be distributed at the city's 145 middle schools in mid-March and detailed the antiforgery measures taken in printing the coupons. The prime minister encouraged the mayor and municipal staff, saying, "I am sure this is difficult, but please persevere."


Tuesday, February 23
Sixth Japanese Contingent of UNDOF Greets Prime Minister Upon Returning from Its Mission

Members of the sixth Japanese contingent of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF), which had been providing transportation and other secondary support for UNDOF in the Golan Heights, Syria, since August 1998, met with Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi at the prime minister's official residence to announce their return. The prime minister thanked them for their efforts and said, "I believe your work was extremely important as a personnel contribution to Japan's efforts for Middle East peace."


Wednesday, February 24
Ministerial-level Conference on Dioxin Policy Holds First Meeting

The ministerial-level conference on dioxin policy, which is to consult on measures to combat environmental pollution from dioxin, held its first meeting at the prime minister's official residence. Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi opened the meeting, saying, "Addressing dioxin countermeasures represents an urgent task for the sake of protecting the people's health. I hope the government will unite in advancing policies to create a society in which people can live in peace of mind."


Friday, February 26
Economic Strategy Council Submits Final Report to Prime Minister

The Economic Strategy Council, an advisory council to the prime minister, submitted its final report, "Strategies for Reviving the Japanese Economy," to Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi. The report outlined five key strategies: (1) a scenario for economic recovery and guidelines for sustainable national finance, (2) creation of a "sound, creative, and competitive society" and preparation of safety-net measures; (3) final resolution of the problems arising from the collapse of the bubble economy and construction of a financial system for the twenty-first century; (4) revival of vigorous, internationally competitive industry; and (5) strategic infrastructure investment and revival of local communities for the twenty-first century.


Friday, February 26
Prime Minister Meets with Prime Minister Hun Sen of Cambodia

Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi met with Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen of the Kingdom of Cambodia, who had been in Tokyo since February 23 for the third meeting of the Consultative Group on Cambodia, organized by the World Bank and hosted by Japan. Prime Minister Obuchi declared that Japan hoped to strengthen economic assistance to other Asian countries by moving quickly to revive its own economy. Prime Minister Hun Sen expressed his thanks for Japan's decision to resume yen loans to Cambodia.


Saturday, February 27
Prime Minister Views Delacroix's "La Liberté guidant le peuple"

Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi viewed Eugène Delacroix's 1830 masterpiece "La Liberté guidant le peuple" (Liberty Leading the People), on display at the Tokyo National Museum. Exhibition of the painting is part of the activities of the Year of France in Japan, designed to further develop Franco-Japanese exchange. In September 1997, during the Year of Japan in France, the wooden statue Kudara Kannon, a national treasure belonging to Horyuji temple, Nara, was exhibited at the Louvre, Paris, the first time it had been displayed outside Japan.


Saturday, February 27
Prime Minister Meets with Students in Tokyo

Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi chatted with students at Wakei Juku, a student dormitory in Bunkyo Ward, Tokyo, as part of his series of "dialogue gatherings" to meet the people. The objective of this dialogue gathering was to ensure that students' views were reflected in educational reform. The prime minister responded to various questions and opinions from the students for about an hour. He also emphasized the importance of human relations.


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