Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda attended the 116th general assembly of the regular members of the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) held at a hotel in Tokyo.

The Prime Minister said in his address,

"Approximately a year has passed since the inauguration of the Noda Cabinet. During this period, we have been addressing the top priority issues, including the recovery and reconstruction from the Great East Japan Earthquake, the fight against the nuclear power station accident, and the revival of the Japanese economy, with our full efforts.
We were recently able to reach the milestone of the passage of the bills related to the comprehensive reform of social security and taxation systems. However, being careful not to rest on our laurels, we will maintain a sense of urgency as we dedicate ourselves entirely to solving these top priority issues.
Regarding the reconstruction from the disaster, we have been establishing new tools such as the Reconstruction Agency, reconstruction grants, and special zones for reconstruction. The government will fully utilize all of these measures, and at the same time work on measures to deal with the nuclear power station accident.
On the other hand, the recovery of economy in the disaster-stricken area will accelerate reconstruction more than anything else. I would like to earnestly ask for your cooperation in revitalizing investment and business activity.
Upon carrying forward the comprehensive reform of social security and taxation systems, we will establish the National Council for Social Security System Reform under the framework of three political parties at an early stage to deepen discussion on remaining issues, and also securely address the issue of the tax shift countermeasures. I believe that the tax shift countermeasures is the issue you are the most strongly concerned about. I am now resolved to implement countermeasures even more secure than those taken at the time of the introduction of the consumption tax, or when the consumption tax was raised from 3% to 5%.
I would like to ask for your understanding on the issue, for the future of this country.
From now on, I am determined to further focus on the issues of overcoming deflation and reviving the Japanese economy, along with the comprehensive reform of social security and taxation. I evaluate the recent policy judgments made at the Bank of Japan Monetary Policy Meeting as being timely, appropriate and decisive. The government is also determined to take seamless economic measures. In order to do so, the revitalization of small- and mid-sized enterprises, which is also one of the major pillars of the Strategy for Rebirth of Japan, becomes especially important. We would like to draw on all of the measures in addressing the issue, such as fundamentally reinforcing the management support to and overseas deployment of small- and mid-sized enterprises, in order to achieve vitality in Japan's regional communities."