Donald Trump, Melania Trump to meet Japan's new emperor on a trip there next month
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump will visit Japan in late May in order to become the first world leader to meet with the new emperor, the two governments announced.
The president and first lady Melania Trump "will make a State Call on Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan," said a statement Friday from Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. "Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress will host a State Banquet in honor of the President and the First Lady."
The trip, Trump's second to Japan, will be May 25-28.
Crown Prince Naruhito, 59, will be enthroned as emperor of Japan on May 1; he will replace his father, 85-year-old Emperor Akihito, who will become the first Japanese emperor in modern history to abdicate.
Trump is planning to welcome Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to the White House on April 26-27.
Trump and Abe will also meet in Japan; both agendas include discussions about the stalled negotiations over North Korea's nuclear weapons programs.
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The Foreign Ministry said Trump's visit "will be an ideal opportunity for the two countries to advance Japan-U.S. relation furthermore."
This may be the first of two Trump visits to Japan this year; Osaka is scheduled to host a Group of 20 nations (G-20) summit in late June.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Donald Trump, Melania Trump to meet Japan's new emperor on a trip there next month
