TOKYO: Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida left for New York on Tuesday to attend a U.N. General Assembly session where he aims to call for U.N. reform and nuclear disarmament.

This is the first time in three years for a Japanese prime minister to attend a U.N. General Assembly session in-person.

“At a time when the foundations of the international order have been shaken, I’ll send out Japanese proposals, including for strengthening U.N. functions,” Kishida told reporters at the prime minister’s office before his departure.

Kishida was to leave Japan on Monday, but postponed the schedule to respond to powerful Typhoon Nanmadol, which has caused damage in many parts of the country.

In his U.N. speech scheduled for Tuesday, Kishida is slated to underline the importance of an international order based on the rule of law amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

He is also expected to highlight the need to reform the U.N. Security Council, which has been criticized for failing to address the war in Ukraine.

Kishida’s U.S. trip is also intended to push for a world without nuclear weapons. On Wednesday, he is set to host the first summit of leaders from countries ratifying the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty.

At the summit, he aims to affirm a policy of putting the treaty into force as soon as possible and to increase momentum for nuclear disarmament.

Kishida said that in New York he also will hold bilateral talks with leaders from Britain, Turkey, the Philippines, Iran and Pakistan.

He said that nothing has been decided on a meeting with South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol there.

JIJI Press