Emperor Akihito greeted Micronesian President Emanuel Mori on Tuesday at the Imperial Palace, the Imperial Household Agency said.

During their meeting, Mori welcomed a planned visit by the Emperor and Empress to Palau next year, the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, to console the souls of the war dead, according to the agency.

Palau, located to the west of Micronesia, was one of the fiercest battlefields in the Pacific during the war.

Mori said he hopes the Imperial Couple will also visit Micronesia.

The Emperor and Empress visited Saipan in 2005 for the 60th anniversary of the end of the war. At that time, Micronesia and Palau were considered as candidate destinations for the trip.