Prime Minister Naoto Kan held the 11th meeting of the Local Sovereignty Strategy Council at the Prime Minister's Office.

Discussion took place on ways to move ahead on reforms for regional sovereignty and on reforms of ministerial branch offices. The Council decided that it will establish within the Council an Action Plan Promotion Committee.

Based on the discussion, the Prime Minister said, "We have decided today at this meeting that the Council will establish an Action Plan Promotion Committee, given that we will start full-fledged promotion this year, including reforms of ministerial branch offices.
I believe that this decision will facilitate consultations on concrete matters with regional associations and others concerned.
This is a grand-scale project changing the form of the nation. The Cabinet will steadily carry out decisions by this Local Sovereignty Strategy Council."