TOKYO: Japanese Prime Minister SUGA Yoshihide hopes to visit the United States as early as February next year, according to his remark broadcast on television Sunday.

In a BS TV Tokyo Corp. program, Suga said he is considering visiting the United States “within February if possible” to meet with US President-elect Joe Biden, set to take office in January.

Tokyo will arrange the visit with Washington while examining the novel coronavirus situation in the United States, Suga said. The program was recorded Wednesday.

Suga did not say when he might dissolve the House of Representatives, the all-important lower chamber of parliament, for a snap election, only expressing a wish to complete the work he promised to finish.

The next Lower House general election must take place by autumn 2021, when its members reach the end of their term.

Suga did not directly answer the question of whether to seek a second term as the ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s president. His current term is slated to expire at the end of next September.

“I carry on my work steadily each day. There’s nothing more to add to that,” he said.

JIJI Press