TOKYO (AFX-ASIA) - Finance Minister Masajuro Shiokawa said the government needs to continue its efforts to increase the flexibility of monetary policy to stabilise prices and prop up the economy. "It is essential that the government continue its efforts to realise flexible monetary policy to stabilise the level of prices and prop up the economy," Shiokawa told the Upper House of parliament. "Easy policy is helping smooth government bond issuance and maintaining rates at low levels. There is a certain positive effect on corporate procurement as the volume of CPs and corporate bonds is markedly increasing," he said.