New Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi will visit South Korea on Thursday for a three-day trip to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation(APEC) summit in Gyeongju.

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara announced the visit on Tuesday morning during a press briefing. 

The occasion marks Takaichi’s first trip to South Korea since assuming office on October 21.

Kihara said that at the APEC Summit, Japan will stress the importance of a free and fair economic order and express its commitment to contributing to economic development across the Asia-Pacific region.

The cabinet secretary said that Japan will also hold bilateral meetings with other nations during the visit, but that those talks, including one with South Korea, are still being coordinated.  

Reports from the Asahi Shimbun and Kyodo News indicate that both governments are coordinating to hold the first summit between Takaichi and President Lee Jae Myung on Thursday.