Chairman Yasunaga’s Comments on Prime Minister Kishida’s Decision Not to Run in the Liberal Democratic Party Leadership Election

August 15, 2024

Prime Minister Kishida has steadily implemented a raft of measures to fully escape deflation and eventually establish a virtuous cycle of growth and distribution. In the diplomatic sphere, meanwhile, I would like to commend the prime minister once again for his efforts to promote Japan’s advancement, most notably through his leadership at the G7 Hiroshima Summit 2023.

As we head further into the second half of this year, the upcoming US presidential election and other events will likely make changes in the international situation. Nonetheless, what I ask of the Japanese government and ruling party remains unchanged: strengthen Japan’s ability to compete internationally, while also preserving and developing a free and fair trade and investment environment through means including further reinforcement of ties with countries in the Global South. I intend to keep a close watch on the government’s progress in maintaining continuity and taking decisive action regarding its policies. Key among these are promoting green transformation and digital transformation to further grow the Japanese economy, addressing the pressing social issue of Japan’s declining birthrate, and facilitating the entry and participation in the workforce of human resources from overseas.