Japan PM Abe kicks off week-long Middle East Tour

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe left Tokyo Friday for a nearly week-long tour to Egypt, Jordan, Israel and Palestine, his first overseas trip since launching his new cabinet last month.

Under the banner of so-called"provocative pacifism," Abe is expected to underscore Japan's commitment to contributing to peace and stability in the Middle East, said local media.

Abe will meet Saturday with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El- Sisi, who took office last June, and scheduled to deliver a policy speech on the Middle East in Cairo.

On Sunday, Abe plans to visit Jordan, which is on the front lines of fight against Islamic State militants and affected by the instability issues such as increasing refugees, and talks with Jordanian King Abdullan II.

For the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Japan supports a two- state solution, calling on both sides to pursue negotiations and not violent acts.

Abe is expected to discuss with his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu deepening bilateral ties in a"comprehensive" manner during his stay from Sunday to Monday in the country.

On the last leg of the tour, the prime minister will travel to Palestine and talks with President Mahmoud Abbas on Tuesday. The Japanese leader is expected to stress the need for resuming the stalled peace talks between Palestine and Israel, according to Japanese officials.

The prime minister will return to Japan on Jan. 21.

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