ID :
693301
Wed, 12/18/2024 - 00:44
Auther :

Japan Rushing to Arrange Ishiba's U.S. Visit

Tokyo, Dec. 17 (Jiji Press)--Japan is accelerating arrangements for an early visit by Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba to the United States after U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has shown eagerness to meet with him. 
 

Tokyo hopes that Ishiba and Trump will confirm at their envisaged first face-to-face meeting the importance of deepening their countries' alliance and build a personal relationship of trust.
 

"We welcome (Trump's) positive remarks that attach importance to Japan," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi told a news conference Tuesday, voicing hope that they will "meet at a time convenient for both sides, exchange opinions thoroughly and build a relationship."
 

Since taking office in October, Ishiba has had only a brief telephone conversation with Trump. No face-to-face meeting has taken place.
 

Ishiba considered stopping at the United States on his way back home after his travel to South America in November. But the plan was dropped because Trump's side said he would not meet with foreign leaders until his inauguration Jan. 20 next year.
 

But Trump has since held meetings with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, French President Emmanuel Macron and others. He also met with the widow of the late former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at his private residence in the U.S. state of Florida on Sunday.
 

Trump's mention on Monday of his readiness to meet with Ishiba before his inauguration gives momentum to preparations for an early visit by Ishiba to the United States.
 

The potential meeting is likely to be held in January before the inauguration. But many Japanese government officials think that Ishiba does not need to meet with Trump ahead of the inauguration.
 

If Japan aims to set such a meeting for February, arrangements may take time and effort due to an expected influx of requests for meetings with the new U.S. president from leaders of many countries.
 

In February, Japan will be busy deliberating on the upcoming fiscal 2025 budget during the ordinary session of the Diet, the country's parliament, to be convened in January.
 

Tokyo has little choice as to when to hold such a meeting, a senior Foreign Ministry official said.
END


X