Tokyo: Leaders of Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand are expected to meet on the sidelines of a NATO summit to be held in Lithuania July 11-12, Japanese government officials said Friday.

NATO has invited the leaders of the four nations–Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins–to the summit as its Asia-Pacific partners.

The Asia-Pacific leaders are expected to discuss cooperation with Pacific island countries to counter China’s increased influence in the region.

Kishida is expected to ask for his counterparts’ understanding over Japan’s plans to release treated water into the sea from the stricken Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant.

JIJI Press