Japan's Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi is seen on Nov. 10, 2021, at the prime minister's office in Tokyo. (Mainichi)
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Japan's new Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken agreed Saturday to realize an early visit to the United States by Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida for his first summit.
During their first talks over the telephone since Hayashi assumed his post Wednesday, the two top diplomats also agreed to bolster their countries' alliance and make efforts toward a free and open Indo-Pacific region amid China's assertiveness, the Japanese Foreign Ministry said.
The Japanese government has said Kishida, who became prime minister in October, could possibly visit the United States before the end of the year for talks with President Joe Biden. Tokyo is eyeing a November date for the trip, Japanese government sources said earlier.
Last week, Kishida had a brief conversation with Biden on the sidelines of the U.N. climate in Glasgow, Scotland, during which the two agreed to enhance bilateral alliance and closely cooperate toward a free and open Indo Pacific.
Following the telephone talks, Hayashi told reporters that he confirmed with Blinken that Article 5 of the Japan-U.S. security treaty, which states Washington will defend territories under Tokyo's administration from armed attack, also applies to the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea.
China claims the Japan-administered uninhabited islets and calls them Diaoyu, one of several areas of concern among the United States and its allies over Beijing's growing assertiveness in regional waters.
The two top diplomats affirmed the importance of stability in the Taiwan Strait while seeking to hold a so-called two-plus-two meeting involving the two allies' defense and foreign ministers as early as possible.
Hayashi, a 60-year-old House of Representatives lawmaker often seen as holding a "pro-China" stance, became foreign minister when Kishida relaunched his Cabinet this week.
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