The final part of October must have been very busy but quite successful for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in terms of diplomacy. After returning Oct. 20 from a trip to Spain, France and Belgium, Abe paid a visit to China from Oct. 25 to 27. Upon coming back from Beijing, he welcomed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Oct. 28 and 29.
During the first official visit to China by a Japanese prime minister in seven years, Abe held meetings with President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang. Reflecting the improved bilateral relationship, both meetings were reportedly quite friendly in mood and produced many agreements, including a yen-yuan currency swap.
Abe's subsequent meeting with the leader of India — whose population is forecast to exceed China's by the early 2030s and which is often noted for its regional rivalry with China — also resulted in a bilateral currency swap and many other agreements.