New economic ministers vow to seek both stimulus policy, fiscal health+

TOKYO, Sept. 24 Kyodo - Economic ministers of the new Cabinet under Prime Minister Taro Aso stressed Wednesday that they will pursue measures both to shore up the flagging economy and reconstruct the nation's fiscal conditions, in a bid to dispel concerns about a possible split in their standpoints.

Economic and Fiscal Policy Minister Kaoru Yosano, who is known as a keen
advocate of fiscal rehabilitation, and Shoichi Nakagawa, who concurrently
serves as finance and financial services minister and seeks fiscal spending for
necessary areas, indicated their stances are not so different.
''Prime Minister Aso says when we carry out fiscal reforms, we should not fail
to consider economic conditions at that time,'' Yosano said at a press
conference after he retained the ministerial post.
''I do not oppose the view that the government should care about the people's
living conditions when it implements comprehensive reforms on tax and fiscal
spending,'' he said.
Nakagawa said at his inaugural news conference, ''Improving fiscal health is
the consensus of the Japanese people. And I believe steps to rejuvenate the
nation's economy would not contradict with that policy.''
The two ministers said they retain the government's goal of realizing a primary
balance surplus in fiscal 2011. But Nakagawa added that his first priority will
be stimulating the economy.
''I haven't ditched the fiscal 2011 target and want to achieve it at any rate.
To that end, I want the economy to recover and that is my first priority,''
Nakagawa said, indicating his belief that the fiscal reconstruction goal will
become achievable once the government successfully boosts the economy.