Despite increased spending on child care support and education, the Abe administration will never waver in its efforts to fix government finances and achieve a primary budget surplus, Finance Minister Taro Aso said Monday.
On the first day of the regular Diet session, Aso called for swift passage of the budget so the government can deploy "all policy steps" to achieve sustainable economic growth.
"We will never drop the banner of fiscal restoration and will not waver in our efforts to achieve the goal of posting a primary budget surplus," said Aso, who is also deputy prime minister, in his policy speech to the Diet.