When the world has 1,000, 2,000, 3,000 nuclear plants, can we call that a safe world? I think we need to properly have this debate.

While many technological measures can be taken to secure safety at nuclear power plants, such measures on their own cannot cover great risks.

The trend in the world right now is - not just in developed countries, but in developing countries including China and India - there is a movement to build more and more nuclear plants.

China has become a major presence for most countries around the world but notably for its neighboring countries in Asia. So I think it is a common position for Japan and its Asian neighbors that we certainly would strive to maintain as much as possible friendly relations with China.

It is possible for Japan to become the model of a society that does not rely on nuclear power.

The safest nuclear power or energy policy is to realize 'zero nuclear power.'