Outgoing PM Kishida to Meet Biden During U.S. Visit in Late September

According to the Yomiuri newspaper, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is going to visit the US in late September to attend the UN General Assembly and hold a meeting with US President Joe Biden.

Kishida is expected to resign as premier, and the visit is likely to last several days starting September 22. His recent dropout from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party leadership race marked the end of his tenure as prime minister when his term as party president expires late next month. The exact date of the LDP political race is yet to be finalized but it may well take place as early as September 20.

Kishida can speak at the General Assembly right after the parliamentary elections of his successor - who will concurrently be the next prime minister - if the timing permits. There are reports that a cozy relationship with Biden may not precisely be what Kishida's successor in the Japanese government would want.

Last month, Vice President Kamala Harris took the mantle from Joe Biden to become the Democratic Party's nominee. She will face off against Republican candidate and former President Donald Trump in the 2024 US election.