Japanese and US government officials are making arrangements for US President Donald Trump’s visit to Japan, possibly in October. He would have the first face-to-face meeting with the successor to Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru.
Officials began examining whether Trump can visit Japan ahead of his visit to South Korea, following his announcement that he will attend an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. The APEC meeting is scheduled to begin in late October in the country.
The Japanese government is hoping to have Trump visit Japan by the end of this year. Ishiba is known to have entrusted his invitation letter to his trade negotiator, Akazawa Ryosei, to deliver it on September 5.
A Japanese government source said officials are eager to make Trump’s visit happen, noting that the US side places importance on Japan. They added that a US president is known to travel to Asia only once a year, in principle.
A new Japanese prime minister will be elected at the Diet, following the Liberal Democratic Party’s election of a new party leader on October 4. The arrangements for Trump’s visit are expected to speed up between the two countries following the election of Japan’s new leader.
AloJapan.com