Japan's economy is steadily recovering and on the way of shaking off crisis, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said at his first press conference in 2014 on Monday.
Abe said that the upcoming ordinary Diet session will focus on realizing a virtuous cycle of economy, adding that the government will carry out a 5.5-trillion-yen (about 52.7 billion U.S. dollars) economic stimulus package and 1-trillion-yen (about 9.6 billion dollars) tax reform plan.
The government is also considering an increase in wages this spring so as to make the Japanese people feel economic recovering, according to Abe.
As to the U.S.-led Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade talks in which Japan is involved, Abe said that concerned countries have conflicts over national interests and his country will make a decision from a broad perspective.
Abe, who is keen on revising the country's war-renouncing constitution, said the Japanese public should deepen discussion over the revision issue and Japan should also make explanations to China and South Korea.
Abe, known as a hawkish leader, also said he is willing to explain to the two neighbors his intention of visiting the notorious Yasukuni Shrine, which enshrined 14 convicted class-A war criminals during the World War II.
The shrine worship by Abe on Dec. 26 last year triggered fierce opposition and condemnation from China and South Korea, while the United States, a key ally of Japan, also said it was disappointed by Abe's visit to the shrine that "will exacerbate tensions with Japan's neighbors."
U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, during telephone talks with his Japanese counterpart Itsunori Onodera on Saturday, urged Japan to mend ties with its neighboring countries./.