Japan's new Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga has announced members of a new cabinet led by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who just claimed the post in a special session of the Diet on Wednesday.

Shinzo Abe (Front C), leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, poses for photos with members of a new cabinet in Tokyo, capital of Japan, on Dec. 26, 2012. Japan's new Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga on Wednesday announced members of a new cabinet led by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who just claimed the post in a special session of the Diet. [Xinhua photo]

In the new cabinet, veteran party lawmaker Fumio Kishida takes the post of foreign minister, while former vice foreign minister Itsunori Onodera becomes new defense minister.

Taro Aso, a veteran lawmaker and former premier, has been appointed as finance minister.

Abe expressed his high hope for the new cabinet at a press conference.

"The country faces urgent issues in the economy, diplomacy, education and the post-disaster reconstruction in the northeast. I hope we can form a new cabinet that is capable of overcoming the issues."

The ruling Liberal Democratic Party has promised before the election to carry out a five-year economic reform plan to realize a nominal growth of at least 3 percent while setting a 2 percent inflation target, and declared their determination to pursue a bold monetary easing policy to fight deflation.

Abe held the premier post from 2006 to 2007. The coalition formed by the Liberal Democratic Party and the New Komeito Party now hold a two-thirds majority in the powerful lower house.