Newly appointed transport minister Kazuo Kitagawa says he will push for construction of a second runway by 2007 at the debt-strapped Kansai International Airport.
New Komeito policy chief Kitagawa, 51, was appointed minister of land, infrastructure and transport in the latest Cabinet shakeup. He replaced former health minister Chikara Sakaguchi as the only minister from New Komeito.
Kitagawa says he believes the airport can become an international gateway to Asia.