Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba delivers his first policy speech during a Diet session at the Lower House of the Parliament Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, in Tokyo. - AP
TOKYO (Bernama-Kyodo): Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba will visit Laos this week to attend summits related to the Association of South-East Asian Nations (Asean) in his diplomatic debut as national leader, Kyodo News Agency reported on Tuesday.
Ishiba, who became prime minister on Oct 1, will join some of the meetings in Vientiane involving 10-member ASEAN, China and South Korea, among others, for two days from Thursday, Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Keiichiro Tachibana said at a press conference.
"The series of meetings will confirm that Japan, as a trusted partner, will strengthen cooperation with ASEAN," Tachibana was quoted as saying.
Ishiba will send out messages regarding Japan's positions on regional and global issues at the "important" forum for leaders from the Indo-Pacific region, the spokesman added.
On the sidelines of the gatherings, Ishiba will also aim to hold bilateral talks with the leaders of the two East Asian neighbours, as well as of ASEAN members, according to Japanese government sources.
Ishiba was elected prime minister in the Diet after winning the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's leadership race late last month, which followed former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's sudden announcement in August that he would not seek reelection as LDP chief.
Before leaving for Southeast Asia, Ishiba is set to dissolve the House of Representatives on Wednesday for a general election scheduled for Oct 27. - Bernama-Kyodo News Agency
