Tag: Abe

Japan working to arrange Abe-Kim talks: reports

TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — Japan is working to arrange a meeting between Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Kim Jong Un after the North Korean leader said he was open to talks, local media reported Thursday. The Sankei Shimbun said Kim discussed the possibility during historic talks Tuesday with US President Donald Trump. “During the summit with Trump, Kim told Trump ‘I can meet with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’,” the Sankei reported. Japan wants the talks to […]

Japan’s Abe wants to increase investments in Israel

JERUSALEM, Israel (AFP) — Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe met Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem Wednesday and voiced hope for increased Japanese investment in Israel. “I hope we will continue developing investments between our two countries,” he said after talks with the Netanyahu. The leaders agreed to push forward on establishing direct flights between the two countries to boost tourism, investment and business, according to a statement from Netanyahu’s office. Netanyahu praised “the tremendous […]

Reluctant Abe says US, Japan to start talks on ‘trade deals’

by Jerome Cartillier and Andrew Beatty in Washington Agence France Presse PALM BEACH, United States (AFP) — Facing US pressure, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Wednesday that Tokyo was ready to begin talks about “trade deals” with the United States, but was careful not to commit to a bilateral deal. After rising demands for fairer trade from his US host President Donald Trump, Abe said “we have agreed to start talks for free, fair […]

Trump vows to work ‘very, very hard’ for Japanese held in N.Korea

PALM BEACH, United States (AFP) — US President Donald Trump said Wednesday he would work to help Tokyo bring home from North Korea Japanese citizens who were abducted in the 1970s and 1980s to help Pyongyang train its spies. Trump, who was addressing reporters with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at his side, said: “We will work very hard on that issue and we will work hard to try and bring those folks back — […]

Japan-US trade surplus edges down as Abe, Trump meet

TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — Japan’s politically sensitive trade surplus with the US edged down in March, government data showed Wednesday, as the two countries’ leaders held talks over the thorny issue of bilateral trade. Japan logged a surplus in March of 623.1 billion yen ($5.9 billion) with the US, down 0.2 percent, as imports of American-made cars and aircraft climbed, according to the finance ministry data. The fresh data comes as Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo […]

Trump reveals direct North Korea contacts, okays peace talks

  by Jerome Cartilier with Andrew Beatty in Washington Agence France Presse PALM BEACH, United States (AFP) — President Donald Trump confirmed direct contacts between the United States and North Korea and gave his blessing to talks aimed at formally ending the Korean war in a series of diplomatic revelations Tuesday. Setting the stage for a major breakthrough at a series of upcoming summits, Trump said “a great chance to solve a world problem” was […]

N. Korea launch “violent act,””can never be tolerated”: Japan PM

TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — Japan’s prime minister said Wednesday that the latest North Korean missile launch was a “violent act” that “can never be tolerated” after the ICBM splashed down in its exclusive economic zone (EEZ). “We will never yield to any provocative act. We will maximise our pressure” on Pyongyang, Shinzo Abe told reporters. The defence minister said earlier the missile was thought to have landed within Japan’s EEZ. The Pentagon said it flew about […]

ASEAN plus Three (Japan, Korea, China) firms up plans to strengthen peaceful co-existence in the region

  (Eagle News) — Nurturing a peaceful co-existence within the ASEAN region. This was the goal of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Japan, Korea, and China during the 20th ASEAN Plus Three (APT) Commemorative Summit on Tuesday, November 14. President Rodrigo Duterte, chairman of the 31st ASEAN Summit, urged his fellow ASEAN leaders and three dialogue partners, Japan, China and Korea, to continue nurturing a peaceful co-existence within the region. “I urge […]

Japan vows deeper cooperation to build a stronger ASEAN; asks region to put pressure on N. Korea

  Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe vowed to deepen cooperation with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in various areas such as maritime security, defense, trade, infrastructure development, combating terrorism, disaster risk reduction and cultural exchanges. Abe made the commitment during the 20th ASEAN-Japan Summit held at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City on Monday, November 13. He also asked the ASEAN to apply more pressure on North Korea for it to […]

Typhoon leaves five dead after lashing Japan on election day

  by Kyoko Hasegawa Agence France Presse TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — A powerful typhoon left five dead, one missing and scores injured in Japan Monday, moving northward off the Pacific coast after millions struggled to the polls for a national election. Authorities advised thousands living in coastal areas or near rivers to evacuate to shelters before Typhoon Lan, described as “very large and very strong”, hit Tokyo and surrounding regions early Monday morning. The typhoon […]

Tokyo stocks open higher after Abe’s big election win

TOKYO, Japan (AFP) —Tokyo’s benchmark stock index extended a record winning streak on Monday as Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s victory in a snap election pushed the yen down and boosted exporters. The Nikkei 225, which on Friday posted a 14th straight day of gains to match a record set in 1961, added 1.15 percent, or 246.51 points, to sit at 21,704.15 in early trade. The broader Topix index was up 0.96 percent, or 16.70 points, […]