Japan foreign minister plans to visit Germany, France next week

Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi plans to visit Germany and France from the end of this month to early October to strengthen cooperation in promoting stability in the Indo-Pacific region amid China's rising assertiveness, government sources said Wednesday.In his first overseas trip since Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga took office Sept. 16, Motegi is expected to hold talks with German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas and French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian, the sources said.Motegi hopes to emphasize Tokyo's desire to work with the two countries toward a free and open Indo-Pacific regi…READ FULL ARTICLE