Prime Minister Shinzo Abe left Tuesday for a five-day European tour that will take him to Spain, France and Belgium, during which he will attend a biennial conference and hold talks with world leaders.
Referring to the Asia-Europe meeting set to start Thursday in Brussels, Abe said that on "the urgent challenge of North Korea" he would explain Japan's position and "confirm close cooperation" with world leaders to resolve the issues of North Korea's nuclear and missile programs and past abductions of Japanese nationals.
He also told reporters ahead of his departure that he will underline the importance of a "free, fair and rules-based economic order," with Japan and the European Union having signed a free trade agreement amid concerns about spreading protectionism.