Policy Speech by Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda

to the 169th Session of the Diet

Embassy of Japan

January 22, 2008

On January 18, 2008, Japanese Prime Minsiter Yasuo Fukuda delivered a policy speech at the opening of the 169th Session of the Diet.

In his speech, Prime Minister Fukuda declared the five guiding principles for conducting affairs of state. The five guiding principles are:

(i) “Shift to administrative and financial policies that put the people first” to realize a society in which the people and the consumers play the leading roles;

(ii) “Establish a social security system and secure safety” so that the people can live with a sense of security;

(iii) “Create an economic society with vitality” in which the people can feel affluence;

(iv) “Make Japan a peace fostering nation” that plays an active role in addressing global issues; and

(v) “Convert to a low carbon society” which enables prevention of global warming and economic growth at the same time.

On the fourth principle, “make Japan a peace fostering nation,” Prime Minister Fukuda emphasized that, with the Japan-U.S. security alliance and international cooperation as the basis, Japan would actively address the global challenges such as the fight against terrorism, global warming and poverty, and play a responsible role in the international community as a “peace fostering nation” that contributes to peace and development in the world.

With regard to Japan-U.S. relations, Prime Minister Fukuda stated as follows:

“The Japan-U.S. alliance is the cornerstone of Japan 's foreign policy, and we will work to further solidify our relationship of trust and to further promote human and intellectual exchanges which provide the foundation of the alliance. We will steadily implement the realignment of U.S. Forces in Japan , based on the idea of maintaining deterrence and reducing burdens, while listening closely to the earnest voices of local communities, including Okinawa , and exerting our best efforts to promote the development of these communities.”

Recognizing global environmental issues as the most serious challenge to humankind in the twenty-first century, Prime Minister Fukuda stated that Japan would lead the international community by converting itself into a “low carbon society” which would serve as a precedent for the world to emulate. Prime Minister Fukuda also referred to the G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit to be hosted in July and stated Japan, as the G8 presidency, would take the lead in creating a new, effective framework which includes all major emitters, with a view to attaining the long-term goal of halving emissions of greenhouse gases by 2050 in a manner compatible with economic growth.

The transcript of the entire speech is available at:

http://www.kantei.go.jp/foreign/hukudaspeech/2008/01/18housin_e.html

[Related links]

* Policy Speech by Japanese Foreign Minister Masahiko Koumura to the 169th Session of the Diet (January 18, 2008)

http://www.mofa.go.jp/announce/fm/koumura/speech0801.html

* Policy Speech by Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda to the 168th Session of the Diet (October 1, 2007)

http://www.kantei.go.jp/foreign/hukudaspeech/2007/10/01syosin_e.html

* New Year's Reflection by Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda (January 1, 2008 )

http://www.kantei.go.jp/foreign/hukudaspeech/2008/01/01syokan_e.html

*G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit website

http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/economy/summit/2008/index.html