Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Q&As

REPORTER: Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and experts will be discussing global economic conditions at a meeting of the International Finance and Economic Assessment Council tomorrow. There is some speculation that these meetings are intended to lay the groundwork for a postponement of the consumption tax hike to 10%. What type of discussion do you expect at the meeting?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I am not aware of who is making what type of speculation. However, regarding the meetings, Prime Minister Abe will be chairing the upcoming Ise-Shima Summit and Japan, as the country holding the G7 Presidency, needs to take suitable steps to clarify its views and analysis of current uncertain global economic conditions. This is Prime Minister Abe’s idea. The plan is for the meeting to be a venue for hearing from Japanese and foreign experts and specialists about their opinions on global economic and financial conditions. There will be a further explanation about the meetings once the content is finalized. In any case, I think it is important for Japan to hear these broad-ranging opinions about global economic and financial conditions in order to sufficiently exercise leadership as the country holding the G7 Presidency.