Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda attended the National Governors' Conference held at the Prime Minister's Office.

During the conference, Prime Minister Noda met with the metropolitan and prefectural governors, including Mr. Keiji Yamada, President of the National Governors' Association (Governor of Kyoto Prefecture), and discussed the promotion of local sovereignty reforms, reconstruction from the Great East Japan Earthquake, and other matters.

The Prime Minister said in his address,

"I would like to extend my sincere respect to you for your daily efforts in leading the way toward the development of local communities and improvement in community welfare.
More than a year and a half has passed since the Great East Japan Earthquake. Even in the period after the earthquake, there was serious damage from natural disasters such as heavy rains and typhoons all across the Japanese archipelago.
I would like to thank you all for your effort in various forms of assistance, from prefectures nationwide to the disaster-stricken areas, including the dispatch of personnel.
On several occasions, I have visited disaster-stricken areas and I have heard firsthand the compelling needs in these places.
The earliest possible reconstruction of the disaster-stricken areas and the revival of Fukushima are the top priority issues for the Noda Cabinet.
The government of Japan will continuously unite efforts to promote assistance such as special zones for reconstruction and reconstruction grants, with the Reconstruction Agency working as a control tower.
Cooperation from local public authorities is essential for the reconstruction. For example, disaster waste management is progressing largely in cooperation with you.
In addition to the reconstruction from the Great East Japan Earthquake, the government is also willing to strongly promote measures to make Japan a disaster resilient nation. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated.
Paving the way towards revival of the Japanese economy and bringing a feeling of assurance in employment and people's lives constitute another top priority issue for the Cabinet.
We will steadily implement the Strategy for Rebirth of Japan, and promote the building of a nation wherein various entities including local governments and local communities can sufficiently exert their capacity and potential.
Regarding the local sovereignty reforms, the government has been steadily promoting the establishment of a system wherein local governments are able to carry forward local administration voluntarily and more comprehensively, through measures such as the revision of the system of obligations (gimuzuke) and frameworks (wakuzuke) and the establishment of the strategic grant for local autonomy.
We are willing to further advance our efforts in various issues including the formulation of the guidelines for the promotion of local sovereignty and the general abolition of ministerial branch offices, by sufficiently asking for local opinions.
The government commits its full effort in various measures, such as the promotion of local sovereignty reforms, through the continuation of sincere talks with all of you, on occasions including today's meeting."