Kishida kicks off 'funeral diplomacy' with call for stable Indo-Pacific

Japanese prime minister discusses bilateral cooperation and Taiwan Strait with Harris

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, right, shakes hands with U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris in Tokyo on Sept. 26. Kishida is meeting with nearly 40 leaders in connection with Shinzo Abe's funeral. (Photo by Uichiro Kasai)

RIEKO MIKI, Nikkei staff writer

September 27, 2022 00:55 JST

Updated on September 27, 2022 03:21 JST

TOKYO -- Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has kicked off three days of meetings with nearly 40 global leaders in Tokyo to attend Tuesday's state funeral for Shinzo Abe, using the opportunity to renew the ex-leader's push for a "free and open Indo-Pacific."