Japan PM Kishida to visit France, Brazil, Paraguay next week

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is scheduled to visit France, Brazil and Paraguay during Japan's Golden Week holiday period in early May, the government said Friday.

During his planned six-day trip from Wednesday, Kishida is slated to hold bilateral talks with French President Emmanuel Macron, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Paraguayan President Santiago Pena, the government said.

Kishida is expected to deliver a speech at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development's Ministerial Council Meeting in France on various issues including climate change and international rules for generative artificial intelligence.

This year marks the 60th anniversary of Japan joining the OECD. Tokyo currently chairs the Paris-based club's ministerial panel.

Japan has been deepening relations with developing countries in the Global South, among which Brazil is viewed as a key player, along with India and Indonesia.

Brazil is home to around 2.7 million people of Japanese descent and Kishida is likely to meet members of the community, said Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, the top government spokesman.