[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Saehye] Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga kicked off summit diplomacy on the 20th by starting a phone talk with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
According to Kyodo News, Prime Minister Suga held a phone talk with Prime Minister Morrison that night. Since Suga, who took office on the 16th as the successor to former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe who resigned due to chronic illness, this was his first meeting with a foreign leader, and Morrison was the first.
That night, Prime Minister Suga also held a phone talk with U.S. President Donald Trump. In his first meeting with President Trump, Suga is expected to explain his U.S.-centered (key currency) diplomatic policy and exchange views on the North Korean situation.
NHK reported that Prime Minister Suga conveyed his intention to maintain and strengthen the U.S.-Japan relationship under the former Abe administration and requested cooperation on resolving the issue of North Korea's abduction of Japanese citizens. It is also expected that they will discuss issues related to China, which is in confrontation with the U.S.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Suga is scheduled to participate via video in the general debate speeches of world leaders at the United Nations General Assembly starting on the 22nd at the UN headquarters in New York. On the 19th, Suga recorded a video speech of about 10 minutes at the official residence to be sent to the UN General Assembly. Suga's first UN speech is scheduled for the 26th (Korean time).
The Japanese government is also promoting plans to hold a foreign ministers' meeting of four countries? the U.S., Japan, Australia, and India? in Tokyo next month. If this meeting is realized, Prime Minister Suga is expected to meet directly with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and others.
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