Abe Mulling Visiting Netherlands, Uruguay, Paraguay in Dec.

November 21, 2018

Tokyo--Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is considering visiting the Netherlands, Uruguay and Paraguay, in addition to a planned trip to Britain, in December, government sources said Tuesday.

Abe is mulling the travel to the four countries through Dec. 7 after attending the two-day summit of the Group of 20 advanced and emerging economies in Buenos Aires from Nov. 30, the sources said. He may visit more countries during the tour, according to the sources.

In the Netherlands, Abe will meet with its prime minister, Mark Rutte, for discussions on the their countries' cooperation to promote free trade, following the signing of the Japan-European Union economic partnership agreement in July.

Abe will aim to boost Japan's economic relations with Uruguay during his meeting with its president, Tabare Vazquez. He hopes to build relations with Paraguayan President Mario Abdo Benitez, who took office in August, the sources said.

Abe would be the first Japanese prime minister to visit the two South American countries.

In Britain, Abe will meet with its prime minister, Theresa May, and call again on the country to ensure that its planned exit from the EU will not affect Japanese companies operating in Britain.

Abe and May are expected to exchange views on the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade agreement, which is seen entering into force late this year. Britain is believed to be interested in joining the free trade pact among Japan and 10 other countries.

Abe is slated leave for Argentina on Nov. 29 to kick off the tour.

The prime minister is expected to make a final decision on details of the tour while taking matters related to the Diet, Japan's parliament, into account as the current extraordinary Diet session is scheduled to end on Dec. 10, according to the sources. Jiji Press