Japan Kan: BOJ statement shows will have active policy

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TOKYO Dec 22 (Reuters) - The Bank of Japan's statement that it will not tolerate zero or negative consumer prices shows the central bank will actively take measures to combat deflation, Japanese National Strategy Minister Naoto Kan said on Tuesday.

Kan, who is also deputy prime minister, told reporters the BOJ's understanding of price stability centring around a 1 percent rise in prices can be interpreted as an inflation target. (Reporting by Stanley White)