Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi emphasizes the importance of dialogue in China-Japan relations.

(Tokyo = Yonhap News) Correspondent Lee Do-yeon = Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said on the 1st that "it is very important to have dialogue at all levels" regarding China-Japan relations.

Prime Minister Takaichi appeared on Nippon TV's program that day and said in relation to a conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit to be held in China next month, saying, "I will refrain from making predictions, but I will definitely continue communication and respond calmly and appropriately from the perspective of national interest."

Regarding the U.S.-China relationship, he said, "I hope that it will contribute to the stability of the international community, including Japan."

Regarding the food consumption tax cut, which is being discussed at the extraordinary National Assembly to be convened on the 5th, he said, "If there are stores that keep the prices the same even though the tax rate has been reduced, it will have a negative impact on their reputation, so we will try to reduce prices to a certain level."

The Takaichi government is pushing to pass a bill in the extraordinary National Assembly to temporarily lower the food consumption tax rate to 1% for two years from April next year.

The remarks on this day are interpreted as a response to some concerns that consumers will not benefit if stores keep their sales prices the same even if the consumption tax is reduced.

Regarding economic and fiscal policies, he emphasized, "Responsible active finance is responding to necessary financial demands while clearly securing financial resources," and "We will never do anything that will have a negative impact on people's lives now and in the future."

Regarding measures to raise financial resources, the government announced its policy to secure the necessary financial resources to prepare next year's budget, citing examples such as returning unused money from various funds to the national treasury or utilizing non-tax revenue.