In his New Year press conference Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori expressed his desire "to make the 21st century a sparkling age as a 'century of humanity,' one in which all people around the earth can make the most of their individuality." He spoke of the kind of country Japan ought to become in the new century, emphasizing peace, richness, and culture.

Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori paid his respects at Ise Jingu, Japan's premier Shinto shrine, in Ise City, Mie Prefecture. He spoke of the reform of the central government at the press conference held afterward, saying, "With our sights set on the 'rebirth of Japan'--a structural reform of our economy and society overall--we aim first to achieve a 'rebirth of government,' with the state taking the lead in reforming itself so that it can recover responsiveness and flexibility in affairs of state and perform the inherent role of the state." He clarified that following the reorganization he intended to press on to the next matters to be addressed, including the reform of public corporations, public interest corporations, and the civil service system, along with regulatory reform and decentralization.

Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori examined preparations for the reorganization of central government ministries the day before the official changeover. He inspected the new Minister's Secretariat office of the Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications and spoke to staff, and also visited the new Minister's Office of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.

With the start of the new setup of one Cabinet Office and 12 ministries in the reorganized central government, the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy held its first meeting at the Prime Minister's Official Residence. The council is a study and deliberative organ supporting the Prime Minister's exercise of leadership in economic and fiscal policy. At their first meeting the members discussed the agenda for future deliberations, as well as current economic conditions and the government's response.

From January 7 to January 15 Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori visited three African countries and Greece. He went first to the Republic of South Africa, arriving in Johannesburg on January 8 and beginning a busy round of activities, which included observing a job-training project for African refugees and an information-technology (IT) project. On January 9 he met with President Thabo Mbeki and delivered an address,"Africa and Japan in the New Century," at Gallagher Estate.

Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori went next to the Republic of Kenya, where he met with President Daniel Toroitich Arap Moi on January 10. On January 11 he visited the Kakuma Refugee Camp and observed a training-base project at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology and a technological-cooperation project in Nairobi National Park. Included in his schedule for January 12 was a visit to the Kenya Medical Research Institute , which is engaged in research on countermeasures for infectious diseases and parasites.

Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori arrived in the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the final African country on his tour, on January 12. Meeting with President Olusegun Obasanjo in his office, the Prime Minister commended the president's bold political and economic reform initiatives upon achieving a return to civilian control after an interval of16 years. Talking later with both President Obasanjo and Republic of Mali President Alpha Oumar Konare, chairman of the Economic Community of West African States, the Prime Minister praised the constructive role ECOWAS is playing in economic integration and conflict prevention and resolution in West Africa.

Having completed his visit to three African countries, Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori arrived in Athens, the capital of the Hellenic Republic (Greece), on January 13. In 1999 Japan and Greece commemorated the hundredth anniversary of diplomatic relations, Commerce, and Navigation, but this was the first time a prime minister of Japan visited Greece. In talks between Prime Minister Mori and Prime Minister Konstandinos Simitis of Greece, the two leaders exchanged views on a wide range of subjects including the bilateral relationship, the reform of the United Nations, and the situation in the Balkans and elsewhere.

At the first plenary meeting of the Council for Science and Technology Policy, Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori submitted Inquiry No. 1, a comprehensive strategy for science and technology. Addressing the council, the Prime Minister said, "The purpose of the Council for Science and Technology is to formulate a comprehensive national policy for and make timely decisions on science and technology, which are basic matters of state management, acting under my leadership. While serving thus as a 'control tower' for the promotion of science and technology policy, it is important that the council lead the establishment of priorities and the reform of the science and technology system, reaching across the walls separating ministries and agencies.

With Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori in attendance, the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy met for the second time. The council is a study and deliberative organ supporting the Prime Minister's exercise of leadership in economic and fiscal policy affairs.

The Strategic Headquarters for the Promotion of an Advanced Information and Telecommunications Network Society (IT Strategic Headquarters), which is headed by Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori, held its first meeting and approved the "e-Japan strategy." This strategy aims as a matter of national strategy to make Japan one of the world's advanced IT nation within five years through swift, targeted action backed by the combined power of the public and private sectors. The Prime Minister expressed his resolve, saying, "Following this strategy, I want to work together with you to resolutely advance our country's IT revolution and build a still more affluent and dynamic Japan."

With Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori in attendance, the Council for Gender Equality held its first meeting. The Prime Minister asked the council to make a prompt study of support measures for people trying to work and raise children at the same time. The council responded with a decision to create an investigative committee of specialists.

Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori presented baseball player Hideki Matsui with the Prime Minister's Cup, Fiscal 2000 Japan Professional Sports Grand Prize, at the Prime Minister's Official Residence. The grand prize is awarded annually by the Japan Professional Sports Association to the athlete judged to have made the biggest contribution that year.

The Social Security Reform Study Group of the Government and Ruling Parties held its first meeting at the Prime Minister's Official Residence. Following up on an October 2000 report submitted by a panel of knowledgeable people organized under the Prime Minister to investigate a viable social security system, the study group will meet occasionally to coordinate views in the government and ruling parties, formulate an outline of reform ideals and guiding principles, and debate concrete courses of action based on them.

Addressing a meeting of the Central Disaster Prevention Council, Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori pointed out that the best way to reduce damage in the event of a disaster is to promptly collect, assemble, and share the damage information coming in from central and local government offices, related organizations, and other sources immediately after a disaster occurs, to convey the gist of the information to decision makers, and to make decisions on that basis. He instructed the council to reexamine and reinforce Japan's disaster prevention system in the light of the new setup of ministries and agencies, with special attention to the central government's disaster information system.

The Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum, which draws world leaders in politics, business, and academia, was held in Davos, Switzerland, January 25-30. The World Economic Forum, a foundation based in Geneva, has hosted this meeting annually at this time of the year since 1971. It is popularly known as the Davos Meeting after the town in which it takes place. Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori, the first incumbent Japanese prime minister to attend, delivered a speech titled "Shaping Japan, Shaping a Global Future.

Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori met with President Jose Eduardo dos Santos of the Republic of Angola at the Prime Minister's Official Residence. The two leaders exchanged views on promoting friendly and cooperative relations between Japan and Angola.

The 151st session of the Diet, the first of the twenty-first century, was convened, and Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori delivered a policy speech to plenary sessions of both houses following the opening ceremony. Discussing the outlook for the new century, the Prime Minister expressed his determination to build a peaceful nation and world blessed with an abundant environment, and he stated his convictions on policies in terms of "hope," "humanity," "trust," and "the earth."