Prime Minister Naoto Kan and Bank of Japan Gov. Masaaki Shirakawa exchanged opinions Monday on global economic and financial conditions ahead of the Group of 20 summit this week in Canada.

In their first meeting since Kan took office this month, the two also discussed domestic issues, apparently including efforts to fight deflation. After the meeting, Shirakawa denied that Kan made any requests regarding BOJ monetary policy.

Shirakawa said the lunch meeting came about as both the government and BOJ had hoped to have such an opportunity following the inauguration of the new Cabinet. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshito Sengoku and BOJ Deputy Gov. Hirohide Yamaguchi also attended the meeting at the prime minister's office.

Shirakawa said he briefed the prime minister on domestic and international economic and financial issues that he should know about before attending the G20 summit in Toronto.