Peru's Fujimori to visit Japan in November to strengthen bilateral ties

Peruvian President Keiko Fujimori is arranging a visit to Japan in November, following her attendance at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum leaders’ meeting in Shenzhen, China, through Nov. 19, sources from both governments said Wednesday. Fujimori, who took office last month, seeks to strengthen bilateral ties by choosing Japan as one of her first overseas destinations. Her paternal grandparents were from Kumamoto Prefecture, while her maternal grandparents were from Fukuoka Prefecture. She told Kyodo News in April that if elected, she would work to further strengthen relations with Japan and visit at an early date .

A cross-party group of Japanese lawmakers will visit China next week for potential talks with senior Communist Party officials, marking the first such exchange since diplomatic tensions escalated last November, sources familiar with bilateral relations said Wednesday. The delegation, including Liberal Democratic Party member Gaku Hashimoto and Centrist Reform Alliance member Shinichi Isa, will make a four-day trip starting Monday. Relations soured after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggested Japan would act in the event of an attack on Taiwan, prompting Beijing to impose trade curbs and discourage travel to Japan .

Japan’s Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko arrived in Paraguay on Wednesday for a six-day goodwill tour commemorating the 90th anniversary of Japanese immigration to the country. They were received by Paraguay’s Foreign Minister Ruben Ramirez at Silvio Pettirossi International Airport in Luque .

Japan’s trade deficit totaled 634.5 billion yen ($4 billion) in July, the third straight month of red ink, as imports surged 27.8% to 12.15 trillion yen ($77 billion) and exports rose 23.2% to 11.51 trillion yen ($73 billion), the Finance Ministry reported Thursday. The war in Iran has driven crude oil prices higher, while Japan’s weak yen has increased the cost of imports. The yen traded at about 158 to the U.S. dollar, down from over 160 in July but higher than 140 a year ago .

The government will compile an aid package for earthquake-hit southwestern Japan by the end of August, including travel discounts for tourists, financial aid for residents and businesses, and subsidies to restore railway infrastructure and wells in Kumamoto Prefecture, sources said Wednesday. Prime Minister Takaichi designated the July 28 quake a “disaster of extreme severity” and pledged over 20 billion yen ($130 million) in reserve funds .

Foreign visitors to Japan reached 3.44 million in July, a record for the month, with South Korea leading at 894,700 visitors, up 31.9%. Visitors from China plunged 56.1% to 428,200 amid strained bilateral ties .

Japan’s Asian Games team, led by chef de mission Kosei Inoue, aims to surpass its record 218-medal haul from the 1994 Hiroshima Games. The event in Nagoya and Aichi runs from Sept. 19 to Oct. 4, with over 1,400 athletes and officials participating .