TOKYO: Japanese Prime Minister SUGA Yoshihide plans to have bilateral talks with US President Joe Biden on the sidelines of a Group of Seven summit to be held in Cornwall, southwestern Britain, from Friday, Japanese government sources said Monday.

Suga and Biden are expected to coordinate their positions on China, which is seen high on the G-7 summit’s agenda, as well as discuss bilateral cooperation on North Korea-related issues including its nuclear program and past abductions of Japanese citizens.

The face-to-face talks between the Japanese and US leaders will be the first since they met in Washington in April.

“There are various things that were decided on (at the April meeting), so the leaders will confirm their commitment to these things,” a senior Japanese Foreign Ministry official said.

Another senior ministry official admitted that there are no urgent issues between the two countries at the moment. “It’s just that they will meet when possible,” the official said.

Suga is also considering bilateral talks with other G-7 leaders including British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and French President Emmanuel Macron.

JIJI Press