Chairman Kobayashi’s Comments on the Announcement of
Prime Minister Abe’s Resignation

August 28, 2020

Amid the unprecedented domestic and international crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, I sympathize with the challenges that Prime Minister Abe faced and both understand and respect his decision to resign. I wish him a speedy recovery to full health.

During Prime Minister Abe’s term of office, the longest in the history of Japan’s constitutional government, his administration provided stability in addressing important policy issues. I would like to take this opportunity to once again express my gratitude for his steadfast commitment to Japan’s growth.

In spite of our increasingly protectionist world, Prime Minister Abe determined to realize multilateral trade agreements, including the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, the Japan-EU Economic Partnership Agreement, and the Japan-US Trade Agreement.

I look forward to a swift decision by our government on Prime Minister Abe’s successor, and I remain optimistic that our state leaders will make good progress in addressing the many issues facing our nation, the most pressing of which will be overcoming the pandemic and ensuring economic recovery.