Japan's Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda has sent a message to this year's annual meeting of political and economic leaders in Davos, Switzerland.

In a video conference link-up on Saturday evening, Noda said he would reform the social security and tax systems, and implement a consumption tax hike, in order to build sustainable welfare systems and maintain fiscal discipline.

He referred to his speech at the opening of the ordinary Diet session in which he said his goal was to break away from the political indecision that has continually stalled resolution of key issues.

He said he is determined to stop the habit of postponing important decisions.

Noda said he wants to serve as an example to other world leaders who are trapped in similar situations.

Referring to the March 11th earthquake and tsunami, he said many firms have been able to restart their operations in an amazingly short time.

He said Tokyo Electric Power Company was successful in bringing the reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant to a state of cold shutdown.

He emphasized that there are no obstacles in doing business in Japan. He called on foreign firms to invest in Japan to help the country rebuild after the disaster.

News credit: http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/20120128_22.html

Image credit: http://www.kantei.go.jp/foreign/noda/actions/201201/__icsFiles/afieldfile/2012/01/27/26shu_hon1.jpg