Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida will visit Mexico, Peru and Panama starting Sunday to speak with the leaders of the countries, the Foreign Ministry said Friday.

He is also expected to give a speech that outlines Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's policy of strengthening cooperation with the governments of Latin America.

"Central and South America is rapidly growing economically and a growth center rich in resources," Kishida said, adding that countries in the region are "important partners" of Japan that share basic values, such as democracy and the rule of law.

After traveling around Latin America, Kishida is scheduled to stop over in Los Angeles and meet members of the Japanese-American community there.

He will return to Japan on May 5. Also Friday, Kishida said he will meet with French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius in Japan on May 7 to hold a third foreign ministerial strategic dialogue between the countries