• At a press conference, Kishida announced that he will visit Lithuania and Belgium to attend events including a two-day NATO summit in the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius from July 11

TOKYO: Japanese Prime Minister KISHIDA Fumio said Wednesday that he will visit Europe and then the Middle East in July.

At a press conference, Kishida announced that he will visit Lithuania and Belgium to attend events including a two-day NATO summit in the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius from July 11.

He was invited to the NATO summit as in the previous year.

Kishida aims to strengthen Japan-NATO security cooperation, with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and China’s increasingly hegemonic actions in mind.

In Belgium, he is scheduled to meet with European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

On Wednesday night, Kishida and von der Leyen agreed in telephone talks to closely communicate with each other in the area of economic security.

The two leaders also confirmed that regional issues including Ukraine will be discussed during the planned talks between Japan and the European Union.

Kishida also told Wednesday’s press conference that he will visit Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.

In his envisaged talks with the three nations’ leaders, Kishida is expected to discuss measures to stabilize crude oil prices and ensure stable supplies of liquefied natural gas.

“We will actively engage in diplomacy that advances our national interests further and makes sure that a free and open international order, based on the rule of law, is maintained and strengthened,” Kishida said.

JIJI Press