Japan: PM Shinzo Abe Lays Out His Priorities

Japan's new Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has been laying out his priorities after his election victory was rubber-stamped by parliament.

The veteran named the cabinet he hopes will help him push through the economic revitalization of the country's depressed economy.

His appointment marks an end to three years of liberal administrations and restores power to the conservative, pro-business party that has run Japan for most of the post-World War II era.

Abe, who was PM in 2006-7 before resigning for health reasons, has promised to restore growth to an economy that has struggled for 20 years.

His administration also faces souring relations with China and a debate over whether Japan should wean itself off nuclear energy after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami caused a meltdown at the Fukushima atomic power plant.

Abe posed for pictures with his new cabinet

Abe, 58, told reporters before Wednesday's parliamentary vote: "I feel as fresh as the clear sky today."

His new Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga declared the country's new leaders a "crisis breakthrough cabinet".

He said: "Disaster reconstructon and economic recovery are our first and foremost tasks."

Abe is expected to push for a 2% inflation target to combat dropping prices and a boost of as much as 10tn yen (£74bn) to public works spending.

In foreign policy, Abe has stressed his desire to make Japan a bigger player on the world stage, a stance that has resonated with many voters who are concerned that their nation is taking a back seat economically and diplomatically to China.

The new PM looked relaxed as he arrived at his official residence

He has said he will support a reinterpretation of Japan's pacifist post-war constitution to loosen the reins on the military, stand up to Beijing over an ongoing territorial dispute and strengthen Tokyo's security alliance with Washington.

His new Cabinet will feature another former prime minister, Taro Aso, as finance minister.

Heading the foreign ministry is Fumio Kishida, an expert on the southern island of Okinawa, where many residents angry over crime and overcrowding want a big reduction in the number of US troops they host - now at about 20,000.

The new defence minister is Itsunori Onodera, who was in Abe's previous administration.

Abe has already named a roster of top party executives that includes two women - more than in previous Liberal Democratic Party administrations - and is younger than earlier ones, with three of the four in their fifties.

Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang

Japan: PM Shinzo Abe Lays Out His Priorities

Dengan url

http://majutakgentarian.blogspot.com/2012/12/japan-pm-shinzo-abe-lays-out-his.html

Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya

Japan: PM Shinzo Abe Lays Out His Priorities

namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link

Japan: PM Shinzo Abe Lays Out His Priorities

sebagai sumbernya