Top �� What's up around the Prime Minister �� February, 2002

Prime Minister Delivers Policy Speech to 154th Session of the Diet Monday, February 4, 2002 Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi delivered a Policy Speech to a Plenary Session of both houses of the National Diet. In the Policy Speech, Prime Minister Koizumi outlined his basic policies on managing the affairs of state, stating, "Since assuming office, I have engaged in state affairs based on the belief that for our country to return to a path of sustainable economic growth, we need immediate and decisive action for structural reforms in the economic and fiscal, as well as administrative and social sectors. This structural reform will be in full bloom this year. I will now set forth the basic policies of how my Cabinet will manage state affairs: how it will pursue the reforms, and in what way Japan will fulfill its responsibility in the international community." The Prime Minister went on to say, "Structural reform is making strides forward steadily. Various reforms have been initiated, including reform of special public institutions and regulatory reform. We have formulated the necessary budgets. Indeed, this year will be 'the year of reform in full bloom'; we will launch the reforms that have begun into a firm orbit, one by one, in order to create an even greater trend. Furthermore, we must make this year 'the year to lay a foundation for economic revival.' I will aim to steer us through this crucial period so that we can clearly see the results of reform from FY2003 and so that we will realize steady private-sector-led growth from FY2004 onwards." He also expressed his firm resolve to carry our reform, stating, "When I assumed the office of the Prime Minister of Japan last year, many people thought that it would be difficult to implement the various reforms that I proposed. In fact, however, we have advanced reform in many sectors. The time has come to bid farewell to the systems and practices with which we have become familiar and to flexibly accept the needs and requirements of this new age we live in. Even at a time when the economic climate has grown increasingly severe and many people face difficulties, the policy of my Cabinet, 'no gain without reform,' has won the support of many people. I will advance reform with firm resolve, listening seriously to the voices of the people." In closing, the Prime Minister quoted a tanka, a small Japanese poem, composed by Emperor Showa and encouraged the people, stating, "Let us be emboldened to overcome the current difficulties before us as we remember the selfless efforts of our forefathers who built our nation into a modern state through the rapid changes of the Meiji Restoration, as well as those who undauntedly rose to the challenge of rebuilding our nation from the ashes of a burned out landscape after the Second World War! We must do this for a better tomorrow. We must do this for our children's future."