Employing a new catchword, Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori opened the 72-day extra Diet session Thursday pledging to create an "e-Japan" that would enrich people's lives and make the nation's industries more competitive.
In his policy speech, Mori emphasized the need for fresh government spending to achieve a full economic recovery and subsequent sustainable growth.
He also expressed his intention to continue talks with North Korea on establishing diplomatic ties and hang on to negotiations with Russia on concluding a peace treaty. Mori delivered the speech before both the House of Representatives and the House of Councilors late in the afternoon.