Japan PM Suga aims to meet with Biden as soon as possible - GulfToday

Japan PM Suga aims to meet with Biden as soon as possible

  • 22 Dec 2020
Japan-Suga

Yoshihide Suga speaks during a news conference in Tokyo, Japan. File/Reuters

Gulf Today Report

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said on Tuesday he wanted to meet with US President-elect Joe Biden as soon as possible to discuss the US-Japan security alliance, the coronavirus pandemic and global warming.

Earlier, Japan's cabinet approved on Monday a record $1.03 trillion budget draft for the next fiscal year starting in April 2021, the Ministry of Finance said, as the coronavirus and stimulus spending puts pressure on already dire public finances.

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Suga, speaking at a symposium, also said Japan was preparing to implement thorough coronavirus prevention measures for the Summer Olympics next year.

The 106.6 trillion yen ($1.03 trillion) annual budget also got a boost from record military and welfare outlays.

In Japan, fiscal reform has been shelved as Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga prioritised efforts to contain the pandemic and boost growth, despite public debt at more than twice the size of Japan's $5 trillion economy.

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