Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Opening Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga

• An overview of the Cabinet meeting
• A meeting of the Global Warming Prevention Headquarters
• The Cabinet approval on the submission ot the Diet of bills related to the Hague Convention
• Appointment of Healthcare and Medical Strategy Advisors
• The inauguration ceremony of the new Pope

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Firstly, I would like to give an overview of the Cabinet Meeting. The meeting approved 11 general measures as well as draft bills, cabinet orders and personnel decisions. With regard to statements by ministers, the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare made a statement concerning the situation of the spring wage offensive.

A meeting of the Global Warming Prevention Headquarters was held in which current policy regarding global warming prevention was established. This policy establishes that the Government will continue to seamlessly promote global warming prevention measures while working toward the new global warming prevention plan. At the meeting, the Minister of the Environment also made a proposal urging regional cooperation for resolution of the air pollution issue in Asia. The Prime Minister then provided instructions to commence the initiatives to achieve this goal. Please contact the Ministry of the Environment for any further details.

Today the Cabinet approved the submission to the Diet of bills related to the Hague Convention and its implementation act. Cross-boarder travel has increased significantly in recent years while there has been a corresponding increase in international marriage and divorce. In light of this, the signing of the Hague Convention, which is an international treaty to deal with the issues of illegal child abduction, is extremely important. We anticipate that the bills related to the Hague Convention and its implementation act will be approved by the Diet without delay.

On February 22, the Office for Healthcare and Medical Strategy was established with the purpose of promoting the development of healthcare and medicine as part of the Government's growth strategy, and today I would like to raise two items in relation to this. Firstly, 11 experts from the various relevant fields have been appointed Healthcare and Medical Strategy Advisors. These individuals are expected to provide the Government with specialist advice to ensure that the office is able to develop and effectively implement strategies. We have asked the advisors to visit the Prime Minister's Office next week on March 18, where I will directly ask for their advice. Further details of the appointment of Healthcare and Medical Strategy Advisors and the meeting to take place on March 18 will be provided by the officials in charge. Secondly, the Healthcare and Medical Strategy Promotion Council has been established under my leadership and provides a place for the general directors of the ministries responsible for this issue to meet and implement strategies in a unified manner. I have instructed Director of the Office for Healthcare and Medical Strategy Izumi to hold a council meeting immediately. For more details on this topic, please contact the Office for Healthcare and Medical Strategy.

As we expect the inauguration of the new Pope to take place on March 19, the Japanese Government is planning to dispatch former Prime Minister Mori to the ceremony as a special representative, although it has not yet been decided at a Cabinet meeting.

Q&As

• The inauguration ceremony of the new Pope
• Okinawa related issues
• The Japan-China-ROK trilateral summit meeting
• UNDP's Human Development Index

(Abridged) 

REPORTER: I would like to ask a question regarding the inauguration of the Pope. Could you tell us why former Prime Minister Mori has been chosen as the special representative and could you also tell us if it is correct to understand that the discussion will take place early next week?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I would first like to discuss this at a round robin cabinet meeting. As this pertains to the inauguration ceremony of the new Pope, we would like to send an appropriate official for the occasion. Given that the Diet is currently in session, we concluded that former Prime Minster Mori is the most appropriate representative and have requested his attendance.

REPORTER: I would like to ask a question on a related topic. It has been reported that Mr. Mori will deliver a personal letter from the Prime Minister. Could you provide us with more details about this?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: (abridged) As for the personal letter, I have been informed that he will not be delivering such a letter.

REPORTER: It has been reported that Ministers responsible for Okinawa issues and Governor Nakaima will establish a new council to discuss means to reduce the burden on Okinawa. Could you tell us if the Government is planning to establish such a council in addition to the current Okinawa Policy Council?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: As you may know, the current Okinawa Policy Council used to have two working groups; namely the subcommittee on burden reduction and the subcommittee on Okinawa promotion. We believe that these subcommittees should be streamlined without changing the overall council. We have reached consensus on this.

REPORTER: Could you inform us of the potential council members and what they may discuss? Could you also tell us if I am correct to understand that the Government will establish a new council?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I would not say that it is a new council but rather the combination of two existing subcommittees. Given that nearly all the members sit on both the subcommittee on burden reduction and the subcommittee on Okinawa promotion, we have come to the conclusion that streamlining these groups will increase productivity and efficiency. With this in mind we are currently planning these arrangements. We will release an official press release at a later date.

REPORTER: Am I right to understand that those member would include yourself, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Defense and the Governor of Okinawa Prefecture?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: We are now making arrangements regarding the members and I believe members will include officials who have always worked on Okinawa issues such as the Minister of State for Okinawa and Northern Territories Affairs in addition to the Governor of Okinawa Prefecture.

(Abridged)　

REPORTER: I would like to ask a question regarding the trilateral summit meeting between Japan, China and the Republic of Korea. I believe that the meeting is scheduled to take place sometime in late May, but could you inform us of scheduling progress?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I am yet to have been informed of the schedule. However, given that the trilateral summit meetings between Japan, China and the Republic of Korea are held regularly, I'm sure that it will be held at an appropriate time.

(Abridged)　

REPORTER: Japan ranked 10th in the United Nations Development Programme Human Development Index, which indicates quality of life. Could you share with us your views on this?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I am aware of this report and I've learned that Japan ranked 10th, a slight improvement on the previous survey. Irrespective of this result, the Government is determined to build a society where whose who work hard shall be rewarded and I believe that such efforts are beginning to be recognized by the international community.