Japan PM Ishiba to consider visiting US to meet president-elect, Yomiuri says

Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, leader of the Liberal Democratic Party, attends the debate with other political party leaders at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo, Japan October 12, 2024. Eugene Hoshiko/Pool via REUTERS

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba intends to consider visiting the United States to meet the president-elect before the inauguration in January next year, the Yomiuri newspaper said on Sunday.

"As the prime minister of Japan, an ally of the U.S., it is necessary for me to have a relationship (with President-elect) before officially taking office in January next year," the Yomiuri quoted him as saying in its interview held on Saturday.