The central government on Friday held a meeting of the Okinawa Policy Council, a forum with the prefecture to discuss issues including U.S. military bases and economic development measures, for the first time in 13 years.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, Cabinet ministers and Okinawa Gov. Genta Koja attended the meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office in Tokyo.

“We’ll make every effort to realize a visible reduction in the base-hosting burden,” Takaichi told the attendees, expressing her intention to work with Okinawa Prefecture to address issues including regional development measures.

“It’s important to promote (Okinawa’s economic development) comprehensively and strategically as a national strategy,” Takaichi said.

Referring to the recent series of incidents and accidents involving U.S.…