Asia

Japan's leader vows to accelerate economic measures, TPP

Associated Press
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Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe delivers his policy speech during a Diet session at the lower house of Parliament in Tokyo, Monday, Sept. 26, 2016. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi) (The Associated Press)

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe delivers his policy speech during a Diet session at the lower house of Parliament in Tokyo, Monday, Sept. 26, 2016. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi) (The Associated Press)

Japan's Finance Minister Taro Aso, right, speaks with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during a Diet session at the lower house of Parliament in Tokyo, Monday, Sept. 26, 2016. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi) (The Associated Press)

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has pledged to accelerate his mix of policies to prop up Japan's economic recovery and speed up parliamentary approval of the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact.

In his policy statement Monday opening the 66-day parliamentary session, Abe outlined an extra set of stimulus measures to help the economic recovery and spur more consumer and corporate spending. He aims to push through a supplementary budget to implement the measures within weeks.

Abe highlighted the economy, while keeping his long-cherished but divisive political goal of revising the U.S. occupation-era constitution. He urged a national debate as a step to gain support for a revision, but mentioned the constitution only briefly at the end of his speech.