"U.S.-Japan coordination to hold a summit at APEC this month"

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is coordinating a summit with U.S. President Joe Biden on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation and APEC summit this month, the Yomiuri Shimbun reported, citing a Japanese government official.

Prime Minister Ishiba spoke to President Biden on the 2nd of last month, the day after his inauguration, but this is the first time if face-to-face talks take place.

The U.S.-Japan summit will be held in time for the APEC summit to be held in Peru from the 15th to the 16th.

Prime Minister Ishiba is expected to strengthen Japan's defense capabilities at the talks to communicate his intention to cooperate with the United States and other countries that agree, and confirm the policy of strengthening the U.S.-Japan alliance, Yomiuri said.

Prime Minister Ishiba is also considering visiting the U.S. to hold talks before taking office in January next year if the president-elect is decided in the upcoming U.S. presidential election on the 5th.

Prime Minister Ishiba is reportedly coordinating with Chinese President Xi Jinping to hold bilateral talks for the first time at the APEC summit.

Prime Minister Ishiba will attend the APEC Leaders' Summit in Peru and the G20 Leaders' Summit in Brazil from the 18th to the 19th.