Japanese policymakers reaffirm close coordination to exit deflation
Adds econ minister Akazawa comments
TOKYO, Oct 3 (Reuters) - Japanese policymakers reaffirmed on Thursday that they would closely coordinate efforts to achieve a 2% inflation target, after a meeting between the Bank of Japan chief and the country's economy and finance ministers.
BOJ Governor Kazuo Ueda, newly appointed finance minister Katsunobu Kato and economy minister Ryosei Akazawa made the commitment when they met, the two ministers told reporters separately.
"We reaffirmed that we would make sure to exit deflation and achieve growth sustainably with the government and the BOJ working closely in line with a joint statement," Kato said, referring to a 2013 statement that commits the central bank to achieve its 2% inflation target.
"We also confirmed that we would closely and carefully monitor market developments and communicate thoroughly with markets," he said.
The meeting comes after Japan's new prime minister, Shigeru Ishiba, said on Wednesday that the economy was not ready for further rate hikes, in an effort to shake off his reputation as a monetary hawk. The remarks helped sent the yen to a more than six-week low versus the dollar.
Asked about Ishiba's comments and subsequent currency market reactions, Akazawa said the government will leave monetary policy to the BOJ and will continue to coordinate closely with the BOJ to exit deflation.
Akazawa said the economy is in an accommodative state in broad terms with the policy rate of 0.25% and Japan is moving towards monetary policy normalisation, but exiting deflation is the top priority.
"We must not cool down the economy," he added.
He said Thursday's meeting was requested by the government based on a view that the three parties should meet at an early date.
It was the first three-way meeting to discuss the joint statement since November 2021, soon after Ishiba's predecessor Kishida became premier.
In 2013, under pressure from then-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to take bolder steps to beat deflation, the BOJ signed the joint statement with the government and committed itself to achieve its 2% inflation target "at the earliest date possible."
Reporting by Makiko Yamazaki, Yoshifumi Takemoto, Kantaro Komiya; editing by Christina Fincher and Toby Chopra
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