Foreign Minister Keizo Obuchi will visit China from July 15 to 19 to meet with the country's leaders, including President Jiang Zemin, ministry officials said Tuesday.
Obuchi will exchange views on the Asian financial crisis and explain Japan's economic stimulus and financial stabilization measures, they said. He will also meet with his Chinese counterpart, Tang Jiaxuan, in preparation for Jiang's official visit to Japan in the fall.
Obuchi will visit four Chinese cities, including Beijing and Shanghai, during his trip, the officials said. China's new ambassador to Japan, Chen Jian, who visited the ministry Tuesday to meet with Obuchi, said the foreign minister's trip is an important event for bilateral relations, the ministry officials said.