French President Emmanuel Macron will visit Japan from March 31 to April 2, followed by South Korea, Tokyo and Seoul on Friday.
“We have agreed to host President Emmanuel Macron of the French Republic and Mrs. Macron as official guests for a working visit from March 31 to April 2,” Japanese government spokesman Minoru Kihara said.
“Japan and France are special partners who share core values and principles, and we hope that President Macron’s visit to Japan on this occasion will further deepen the bonds of friendship and cooperation between our two countries,” Kihara told reporters.
Macron, who has visited Japan several times, will hold talks with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. The two have already held bilateral talks at the G20 meeting in South Africa last year.
The French couple will also meet the Japanese emperor and empress, Kihara added.
Macron’s visit comes as relations between China and Japan sour after Takaichi suggested in November that Tokyo could intervene militarily in any Chinese attempt to seize Taiwan.
Macron visited China in December.
South Korea said Macron’s state visit to South Korea will be from April 2 to April 3 at the invitation of President Lee Jae Myung.
“Macron will be the first European leader to make a state visit to South Korea since the start of (our) new administration,” South Korea’s presidential office said.
“It will also mark his first visit to the country since taking office in 2017 and the first visit by a French president in 11 years,” the statement added.
