iProvisional Translationj Instructions by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi at the First Meeting of the Reshuffled Cabinet (Summary) September 30, 2002

1. Based on the experiences and achievements of the Koizumi Cabinet over the past one year and five months, I am resolved to launch my policy of "no gain without reform" onto a firm orbit. I call upon each member of my Cabinet to share this resolve with me and respond to the trust of the people and do his or her utmost so that we can build a sound society in which the people can view the future with confidence. 2. In order to revitalize our economy, I will strengthen measures to accelerate the pace of structural reform including tax reform and the establishment of special zones for structural reform over the coming six months. At the same time, we will remove the uncertainty that permeates the Japanese economy and the Government, together with the Bank of Japan, will strive to overcome deflation, aiming to conclude the disposal of non-performing loans in FY2004. I call upon every Cabinet member to advance policy measures, with wisdom, firm resolve and leadership. 3. Furthermore, I will continue to seek a fundamental reduction of the bloated public sector. By further accelerating the shift "from the public to the private sector" and "from the central to the local governments," I aim to realize an economy and society centering on a vital private sector and unique regional communities. In particular, regarding reform of the highway-related public corporations, I intend to fully respect the final opinion of the Committee for the Promotion of the Privatization of the Four Highway-related Public Corporations. I also intend to establish the Postal Public Corporation as the first step toward privatization of the postal businesses. I call upon every Cabinet Minister to tackle the issues such as regulatory reform, administrative reform, and decentralization without being constrained by his or her duties and position and, as a Minister of State, to oversee the affairs of our nation from a high viewpoint and with a broad perspective. 4. On the diplomatic front, in solidarity with the international community, we will strive to ensure the peace and security of our nation and intend to proactively fulfill the role of our nation in addressing the various issues commonly faced by the international community such as responding to terrorism and the issue of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. With North Korea, I will resume normalization talks based on the Japan-DPRK Pyongyang Declaration. By eliminating destabilizing factors in the region, I will strive to ensure the security of our nation and to establish the peace and stability of the Northeast Asian region. In particular, in terms of the issue of the abduction of Japanese nationals, fully understanding the feelings of the families and thoroughly hearing out their views, I am resolved to clarify the facts and deal with other matters with the full support of the entire Government. 5. In order to steadily advance reform based on the firm trust placed in the Government by the people, I call upon all of you to pay particular attention to ensuring fair and transparent administration throughout every process spanning the planning of policies, their adoption and implementation. In particular, I request that the Cabinet members themselves resolutely demonstrate appropriate leadership and ensure propriety in the relations between the political sector and the bureaucracy.