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| (Provisional Translation) |
New Year's Reflections by
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January 1, 2002 |
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Let me first of all wish you a Happy New Year.
I would like to express my heartfelt congratulations on the birth of Her Imperial Highness the Princess Aiko on December 1, 2001. My prayers are for her healthy growth.
Since I was inaugurated as Prime Minister of Japan in April 2001, I have devoted my utmost to pursuing "structural reform without sanctuaries." Under the policy of "no growth without reforms," we are advancing reform across a broad spectrum of sectors.
In the current severe economic situation, the only path that will lead to revitalization of the Japanese economy is structural reform to enhance the potential for sustainable economic growth. In order to accelerate reform while averting a deflationary spiral, last month we compiled the Immediate Action Program for Structural Reform, which served as the basis for formulating the second supplementary budget. In the FY2002 budget, which was christened the "budget committed to reform," we have reduced outlays to special public institutions by one trillion yen and we conducted a fundamental review of expenditures with a view to focusing on priority areas, while limiting government bond issuance to less than 30 trillion yen. At the same time, in order to ease the pains that accompany reform, we have given highest priority to employment measures.
Great achievements have been made through administrative reform such as adoption of the Reorganization and Rationalization Plan for Special Public Institutions, which includes the abolition and privatization of the four Highway-related Public Corporations. In line with the principle of "all that can be done by the private sector shall be left in its hands," I intend to continue to boldly implement reform.
Structural reform of our way of life is vital in order to ensure that our people can live worthwhile and hopeful lives with a sense of security. Our medical care system must be rebuilt into a sustainable one under which the pain of reform is shared among patients, insurers and medical institutions. In addition, further reform is necessary in sectors such as social security, urban renaissance and the environment.
Last year, there was a succession of events with major implications to our national security, including the terrorist attacks on September in the United States, as well as the December incident involving the unidentified vessel that intruded into Japanese waters. Japan will continue to actively cooperate with the efforts of the international community to prevent and eradicate terrorism. At the same time, we must bear in mind the importance of "Providing is Preventing," and as such we must construct a system that will allow us to respond to various contingencies.
Our alliance with the United States and international cooperation are the foundation of Japan's peace and prosperity. Year 2002 will be a milestone in Japan's exchanges with neighboring nations of Asia. I look forward to seeing great enthusiasm arising from the people of Japan.
It is the actions taken by each and every person that move the world in which we live. Since there is broad-based support from the people, we are steadily moving toward achieving things which were hitherto thought impossible. I am resolved once again this year to devote my utmost to pursue reform with both confidence and hope in mind.
In this I ask for the further understanding and cooperation of the people of Japan for the Koizumi Cabinet. |