Abe pledges crucial structural reforms

Tokyo

JAPANESE Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has pledged to carry out crucial structural reforms this year as part his drive to kickstart the economy, while emphasising that the country remains pacifist as he pursues his nationalist agenda

"This year we will once again make the economy the foremost priority, delivering the warm winds of economic recovery to every corner of the nation," he said in his new year statement on Thursday, weeks after winning a landslide election.