Reflecting a recent foreign-policy focus on Africa, Japan plans to invite South African President Thabo Mbeki as a state guest in early October, government sources said Friday.
Although a date has not yet been fixed, Mbeki is expected to stay for several days for talks with Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and other political and business leaders and for an audience with the Emperor, the sources said.
Koizumi and Mbeki are expected to focus on strengthening bilateral relations, especially political and economic ties, and also on stepping up Japan's cooperation in fighting the AIDS epidemic on the continent.