TOKYO: Japanese Prime Minister KISHIDA Fumio departed for a tour of France, Brazil and Paraguay on Wednesday, aiming to display Tokyo’s focus on promoting ties with developing and emerging market countries in the so-called Global South.

Kishida is set to give a keynote speech at a ministerial council meeting of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development in Paris on Thursday, calling for stronger ties with Southeast Asia.

He will become the first Japanese prime minister to address an OECD ministerial council since ABE Shinzo in 2014. This year marks the 60th anniversary of Japan joining the OECD.

“I want to send out the message that Japan will lead efforts to build and strengthen a free and fair international economic order based on the rule of law,” Kishida told reporters at Tokyo’s Haneda airport before his departure.

In Paris on Thursday, Kishida will also make a speech at an event on the use of generative artificial intelligence and meet with French President Emmanuel Macron.

In Brasilia on Friday, Kishida will meet with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, this year’s chair of the Group of 20 major economies. They are expected to confirm cooperation over maintaining and strengthening the international order based on the rule of law.

The prime minister will then meet with Paraguayan President Santiago Pena in Asuncion on Friday.

This marks the first time that a Japanese leader visits South America in 10 years, excluding for international conferences.

“I want to confirm with Lula our bilateral and international cooperation,” Kishida said. “With Pena, I want to exchange opinions on international issues,” he said.

JIJI Press