Top �� What's up around the Prime Minister �� June, 2004

The Second Meeting of the Council on Measures for Society with Decreasing Birthrate Thursday, June 3, 2004 The Second Meeting of the Council on Measures for Society with Decreasing Birthrate was held at the Prime Minister's Official Residence. At the meeting, the "Outline of Measures for Society with Decreasing Birthrate" was decided upon. Considering the situation of the past 30 years in which the birthrate has fallen below a level necessary for the maintenance of the population, the Outline points out the need to advance intensive measures aimed at shifting the trend of decreasing birthrate by improving it within the next five-year period range. Addressing the meeting, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said, "With a view to shifting the trend of decreasing birthrate, what's important is to deepen the understanding of the people on the importance of life and the role of the family while creating an environment in which children may lead a both physically and mentally healthy living, and to support the balance between work and family duties as well as child-raising in society as a whole." The "Outline of Measures for Society with Decreasing Birthrate" was decided at the Cabinet Meeting on June 4, 2004.