Prime Minister visits Asia in mid-October Considering Vietnam for the first time since taking office

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Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga has begun to consider visiting both Vietnam and Indonesia in mid-October. If realized, it will be the first overseas visit after taking office. Considering that the infection situation of the Covid-19 is more stable than in the United States and Europe. Call for cooperation in response to the situation in the South China Sea, where China is actively active.

Make a final decision by assessing the infection status of the new local covid-19. He is coordinating talks with Vietnam's Prime Minister Joko Widodo and Indonesia's President Joko Widodo.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato emphasized at a press conference on the morning of the 30th that, he said, it is very important for leaders to communicate face-to-face." Regarding the specific schedule. I would like to make a comprehensive judgment while looking at the international situation and the infection situation in each country.

Vietnam will chair the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) this year. Indonesia has the largest population in ASEAN and is a regional power with its secretariat.

Economic ties with Japan are strong. A series of talks will be held to resume the traffic of people who are stagnant in the new Covid-19. We are negotiating with Vietnam to resume traffic for business purposes only, and we have already resumed long-term residents such as expatriates.

Even if we are concerned about the regional situation such as the South China Sea issue, we will rub our perceptions. The US-China conflict is intensifying, and ASEAN is wary of a jump into the regional situation. Japan also appeals to ASEAN for cooperation for regional stability with China in mind.

The prime minister will inherit the "free and open Indo-Pacific" concept of former prime minister Shinzo Abe as a foreign policy. It aims to strengthen deterrence against China by advocating the importance of values ​​such as democracy and the rule of law.

Vietnam and Indonesia are the countries that Mr. Abe also chose as his first visit after the inauguration of the second administration in 2012, and Japan has traditionally emphasized relations.

Since taking office, the prime minister has held telephone talks with foreign leaders such as US President Trump. In early October, he plans to meet with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who will come to Japan to attend the foreign ministers' meeting between Japan, the United States, Australia and India, and will hurry to resume face-to-face diplomacy.

The government and the ruling party are coordinating to hold an extraordinary Diet session in late October, and the prime minister aims to realize the first foreign visit before convening the Diet.