Palau President Kunio Nakamura will visit Japan as an official government guest next month in a symbolic move aimed at deepening Japan's relations with Pacific island countries.
It is unusual for the Japanese government to invite the leader of a relatively small country -- just 19,000 people -- as a government guest, the second-highest level of official recognition for visiting dignitaries. Nakamura's visit will mark the first time a leader of Palau has been invited in this capacity.
Nakamura, a second-generation Japanese, is to visit for a few days around Nov. 13 to hold talks with Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori and meet with the Emperor, just before Mori leaves for Brunei for the Nov. 15-16 meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, government sources said.