WASHINGTON: MOTEGI Toshimitsu, secretary-general of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party, and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken confirmed on Tuesday that their countries will strengthen ties with the so-called Global South.

After meeting with Blinken at the Department of State, Motegi told reporters that countries in the Global South are facing different challenges. “It’s important to take an approach based on each country’s needs,” he noted.

The Global South includes emerging and developing countries that are distancing themselves from both the US-European and China-Russia sides.

Meanwhile, Motegi criticized as “unacceptable” a South Korean opposition lawmaker’s landing on Takeshima, Sea of Japan islets claimed by Japan.

The same day, Motegi also had separate talks with Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman and Bob Menendez, the Democratic chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

The Japanese politician is slated to visit Mexico and Cuba before returning home on Saturday.

JIJI Press