Prime Minister Shinzo Abe left Japan on Sunday for a four-day European trip that will see him make stops in Germany, France, the European Union headquarter
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe left Japan on Sunday for a four-day European trip that will see him make stops in Germany, France, the European Union headquarters in Brussels and Italy.
According to government officials, Abe wants to help lay the groundwork for a successful Group of Seven summit in Italy in May.
He is expected to seek affirmation of the importance of free trade in talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Francois Hollande, Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni and European Council President Donald Tusk.
“We will be working together with the European Union on issues the international community faces such as North Korea and free trade,” Abe told reporters before departing from Haneda airport.
Abe’s trip comes ahead of a series of elections in major European countries. Unease about immigration and the functions of the European Union has prompted speculation that voters could reject the current political establishment in favor of more populist candidates.
