Prime Minister Naoto Kan attended the first meeting of the forum for consultations between the national and regional governments since the enactment of the law at the Prime Minister's Office.

Those attending the meeting on the national government's side were: Mr. Yukio Edano, Chief Cabinet Secretary, Mr. Yoshihiro Katayama, Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications and Minister of State for Promotion of Local Sovereignty, Mr. Yoshihiko Noda, Minister of Finance, Mr. Ritsuo Hosokawa, Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare, Mr. Banri Kaieda, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry and Minister for the Response to the Economic Impact caused by the Nuclear Incident, Mr. Ryu Matsumoto, Minister of the Environment and Minister of State for Disaster Management, Ms. Renho, Minister of State for Government Revitalization, Mr. Kaoru Yosano, Minister for Total Reform of Social Security and Tax, and Mr. Koichiro Gemba, Minister for National Policy. On the regional government's side were representatives of the six regional organizations. Discussion took place on the comprehensive reform of social security and taxation systems and measures for reconstruction from the Great East Japan Earthquake.

The Prime Minister said in his opening address, "This is the first meeting of the forum for the exchange of views between the national and regional governments which was formally established by law, and in that regard I believe this meeting has historical significance.
Although we have had opportunities to listen to the views of the six organizations on various occasions to date, I believe requiring to do so by law indeed has some degree of significance. I expect that this will also contribute positively to the promotion of decentralization and local autonomy, and furthermore, will be a major step for the national government to firmly carry out its affairs in partnership with local governments.
In the wake of the earthquake as well, there were many instances when local governments cooperated with each other speedily, in some sense without going through the national government, and I express my respect for your activities. At the same time, in this context, bearing in mind the lessons from the earthquake, the Government will explore the roles it must further carry out as we look to the future, while listening to your various opinions."