Prime Minister Naoto Kan held a meeting of the Ministerial Committee on Comprehensive Economic Partnerships at the Diet building.

The Prime Minister said in his summary remarks, "In the Basic Policy on Comprehensive Economic Partnerships, which was decided by the Cabinet on November 9, the Government expressed its clear resolve to increase its efforts to conclude economic partnership agreements (EPA) and free trade agreements (FTA) and to balance the opening up of the country in the 21st century and revival of agriculture. It is important for the entire government to develop readiness for these efforts as early as possible, and therefore, the Committee has just now decided on three items.
The Committee decided on the following: first, the establishment of a ministerial meeting and a vice ministers and senior officials meeting for the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP) and EPAs; second, the establishment of a working group on movement of natural persons; and third, initiatives addressing non-tariff barriers.
Furthermore, it is essential to take steps for reviving agriculture. In mid-November, a headquarters for the promotion of agricultural structural reform will be established, with myself as the chair. Through this headquarters, I am resolved to advance drastic reforms for agricultural revival."