TOKYO, Dec. 24 (Xinhua) -- Re-elected Prime Minister Shinzo Abe vowed on Wednesday to bring an economic recovery to Japan while emphasizing constitutional revision a major goal for his ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).
Abe, who gained a new mandate for another four years, told a press conference that he and the LDP "are determined to establish a firm economic foundation for the lives of people and at the same time we want to revise the constitution."
However, the prime minister admitted that the constitutional amendment, which he called a "historical challenge," was not an easy work, saying he would try to build a consensus on the issue in the Diet so as to gain support from the two-third majority in both parliament chambers.
Abe's LDP and its junior partner the Komeito Party now holds a two-third majority in the powerful lower house, but the ruling coalition maintains less than two-third majority in the upper house.
"After achieving consensus in the parliament, we need to hold a national referendum and it needs support of the majority of the public. This is the crucial and most important part of Constitution amendment," he said.
Prior to the Constitution issue, Abe vowed to ensure his economic policy mix, dubbed Abenomics, a success, saying the goal was his administration's "greatest test and challenge."
He pledged to pull Japan out of deflation and make the middle- and small-sized enterprises benefit from the policy. "We must ensure everyone in Japan will be able to feel the benefits of economic recovery."
Abe stressed that his cabinet would set a new economic policy package to support the enterprises and to revitalize regional economies.
On Japan's foreign policies, Abe said he would like to improve relations with China from a broad perspective, adding he knew "a good Japan-China relationship will definitely serve both countries' interests" and improved ties between the two countries "are what the international community desires."
He also said he had an honest exchange of views with South Korean President Park Geun-hye on the sidelines of an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting in Beijing last month, and supported Park's proposal of a foreign ministerial meeting among Japan, China and South Korea.
The prime minister said Japan and Russia began preparations for Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to Japan and he wanted to settle a territorial dispute with Russia and sign a bilateral peace treaty.
Abe also made it clear that Japan would work with Russia to seek a peaceful solution to the Ukrainian crisis.
Abe formed a new cabinet on Wednesday after being re-elected as Japan's prime minister.
