(Sankei: January 19, 2016 – p. 2)

 Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is seeking to meet with the leaders of the G-7 countries before he hosts the Ise-shima summit in May. He is planning to visit the U.S. at the end of March and Europe during the Golden Week holidays from late April to early May to discuss topics that should be dealt with at the summit. He is also considering visiting Russia during the same timeframe in an effort to maintain dialogue with President Vladimir Putin.

 Abe told U.S. President Barack Obama when they met in November that he plans to attend the Nuclear Security Summit launched by Obama. The summit will be held in Washington starting on March 31. Abe also hopes to visit Canada and meet with the leaders of the countries participating in the G-7 summit during his stay in Washington. He also plans to seek an opportunity to hold talks with South Korean President Park Geun-hye.

 During the weeklong holidays in early May, he is scheduled to visit Belgium for regular leaders’ talks with the European Union. He hopes to hold talks with the leaders of the countries that he is unable to meet with during his stay in the U.S. He wants to discuss regional issues concerning Ukraine, the Middle East and North Korea, as well as the global economy.