Tokyo on Friday said Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi will visit China next week for the first time since she took office, attending an Asia-Pacific summit in Shenzhen.

"Prime Minister Takaichi is scheduled to visit the Philippines and China from November 16 to 19 to attend Asean-related summit meetings and the Apec summit," said deputy chief cabinet secretary Masanao Ozaki.

At Apec, Ozaki said Takaichi – who became Japan's leader last October – would discuss issues such as "trade and investment, regional economic integration, economic and energy resilience, the digital economy ... and present Japan's position on these matters".

Before the Shenzhen trip she will head to Manila for a meeting of the 11-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

Ozaki said a Quad meeting – which would include the leaders of Australia, India, Japan and the United States – is being arranged on the sidelines of the Asean meeting.

In a policy address last month, Takaichi called China an "important neighbour" and pledged to build a stable relationship. (AFP)


Edited by Aaron Tam