U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan holds a press conference in the White House in Washington on Oct. 26, 2021. (Kyodo)

       WASHINGTON (Kyodo) -- U.S. President Joe Biden will likely have a "chance to see" new Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida during climate summit talks next week in Britain if Kishida attends, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said Tuesday.

       But Sullivan said, "At this point, we're not in a position to announce any bilateral meetings" with Biden to take place on the sidelines of the upcoming U.N. climate change conference known as COP26.

       Biden has announced his plan to attend in-person the two-day World Leaders Summit at COP26, starting next Monday. Kishida has said he would like to join the event, but whether he will travel to Britain may be up to the outcome of Japan's general election on Sunday.

       "I'm sure they will have the chance to see each other at COP26, if the prime minister is there," Sullivan said.

       Kishida succeeded Yoshihide Suga, who decided to step down after only about a year in office amid mounting criticism over the government's coronavirus response. After taking office earlier this month, Kishida swiftly called a general election as the current term of the House of Representatives members was set to expire.

       The seasoned politician, 64, who also holds the title of the longest-serving post-war foreign minister, held his first phone talks with Biden as Japan's premier on Oct. 5. The two have yet to meet in-person while serving in their current positions.

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