TOKYO (AFX-ASIA) - Finance Minister Masajuro Shiokawa said the government will set a growth target of 1 pct for the year to March 2004, reiterating the target of zero growth for the previous year. "I offered explanations of the plan to set a 1 pct growth target in the year to March 2004 at the G7 meeting in Canada. This is the goal we must accomplish," Shiokawa told a regular press briefing. "The government forecasts growth for the year to March 2003 will be zero. The government will take steps to prevent deflation, including measures to sustain stock prices," he said. "I also told G7 ministers that Japan will work out tax reforms in June."