June 25, 2010
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Prime Minister Naoto Kan will pledge to reinforce Japan's finances, economy and social security system, in his diplomatic debut at the upcoming global summits in Canada.
Kan arrived in Toronto on Thursday to attend the Group of 8 meeting the following day and the broader Group of 20 summit over the weekend.
Ahead of the G8 meeting, the prime minister will hold bilateral talks with Canada's Prime Minister Stephen Harper and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Items on the agenda for the summits include the sinking of a South Korean navy ship and the Iranian nuclear issue.
Talks will also focus on how nations can reduce fiscal deficits without sacrificing economic growth, in the wake of the European sovereign debt crisis.
Kan is expected to stress the need for national finances to have sound footings, in order to maintain sustainable growth on a global scale.
He will outline his plan to reinforce Japan's finances, economy and social security system in an integrated manner, through tax reforms and by promoting growth in such sectors as the environment, medical and nursing care.
The prime minister is due to hold his first meeting with US President Barack Obama on Sunday. Japanese officials say Kan will confirm the importance of the 2 countries' alliance. The relocation of the US Marines Futenma base in Okinawa remains one area of concern for the 2 leaders.
2010/06/25 18:01(JST)
(JST: UTC+9hrs.)
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