Kishida to Visit Southeast Asia from Fri.

Tokyo, Nov. 7 (Jiji Press)--Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will visit three Southeast Asian countries, starting Friday, to attend a series of regional meetings.

During his trip, Kishida is considering holding his first formal meeting with South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol to improve relations between the two nations.

Kishida is also seeking to hold dialogue with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, who last month entered his third term in power.

"I'll send out a message on Japan's position and efforts regarding the international situation as well as food and energy security," Kishida told government and ruling coalition officials on Monday, referring to the regional meetings.

Natsuo Yamaguchi, head of Komeito, the junior coalition partner of Kishida's ruling Liberal Democratic Party, called on the prime minister to actively engage in summit diplomacy with the United States, South Korea and China.

[Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]