New Chief Cabinet Secretary Osamu Fujimura said Friday the government is planning to set up a panel to discuss a comprehensive national strategy, including the controversial right of collective self-defense and the ban on arms exports.

"We are imagining a high-level panel to discuss and promote policies related to national strategy, including diplomatic and security issues, and naturally such issues will be discussed at the highest level," Fujimura said.

Japan in principle prohibits the export of arms and all weapons-related technology. But Democratic Party of Japan policy chief Seiji Maehara said Wednesday in Washington that Tokyo needs to ease the ban to strengthen Japan's defense industry and enable it to participate in joint development with other countries.