Japanese PM on main policy challenges

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on Wednesday his main policy challenges this year will be wage increases, investment promotion and child-care support.

Kishida said he would visit Washington DC for talks with President Joe Biden to underscore the strength of the Japan-US alliance.

The US visit is part of Kishida's upcoming trip to most of the Group of Seven countries beginning on Monday and Japan will host this year's G-7 summit in Hiroshima.

The Prime minister also vowed to tackle Japan's dire problem of declining births. The number of babies born in Japan last year is expected to fall to a new record below 800,000 as part of a continuous decline. Kishida said his government would do more to expand support for childcare and reduce gender gaps in salaries and working environments to lower barriers for women.