To Continue Underlining Economy: Prem. Abe

Tokyo, Jan. 19 (Jiji Press)--Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Sunday that his administration will continue to put priority on economic reconstruction. Abe said at a regular convention of his Liberal Democratic Party that his government wants to bring about economic recovery across Japan. It has to "ensure a positive economic cycle," Abe said. The prime minister said he aims for early approval of a supplementary budget for fiscal 2013 and a main budget for fiscal 2014, which starts in April, during an ordinary parliamentary session to be convened on Friday. Regarding the planned consumption tax hike in April, Abe said that Japan should not miss an opportunity to overcome deflation, stressing efforts not to send the economy off the recovery track. In his speech, Abe urged the ruling party to unite in support of former health minister Yoichi Masuzoe in the Feb. 9 Tokyo gubernatorial election. The LDP will make every effort to bring the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games to a success, he said. Abe did not mention the proposed change of the government's interpretation of the constitution to allow Japan to exercise the right to collective self-defense. He apparently took account of a cautious stance of New Komeito, the LDP's coalition partner, on the issue. He said hopes for stable politics for citizens are behind the bonds between the ruling parties. But he is expected to face a task of how to coordinate policies with New Komeito when the fiscal 2014 budget is approved and changing the interpretation of the constitution is on the agenda. New Komeito leader Natsuo Yamaguchi, who joined the convention as a guest, said the biggest task this year is to ensure that the prime minister's Abenomics economic policy mix will have solid effects with a private-sector initiative. Other guests included Hiromasa Yonekura, chairman of the Japan Business Federation, or Keidanren. The LDP wrapped up the convention by adopting a 2014 action plan that calls for firm implementation of the Abe administration's growth strategy, realization of constitutional amendments and efforts to win unified local elections next year. END