The government announced on May 24 that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will travel to Italy and Malta from May 25-28 to attend the G7 Summit in Taormina in southern Italy and to visit Malta.

Ahead of the G7 Summit, Abe will meet with U.S. President Donald Trump in Taormina on the morning of May 26 (afternoon of May 26 in Japan) to exchange views on the North Korea situation and other issues.

This will be the second Japan-U.S. summit since the first one was held in February. The leaders will embark on strengthening bilateral cooperation in response to North Korea’s provocations, such as its ballistic missile launch on May 21.

Abe will also hold his first meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron.

The G7 Summit will be held on May 26-27. In light of the terrorist suicide bombing in Manchester on May 22, the leaders will discuss strengthening cooperation in counterterrorism, the North Korea situation, the international economic situation, and other issues.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga stated at a news conference: “We would like to convey a strong and clear message that the G7 will continue to serve as the driving force of the international community.”