Japanese PM Abe to visit Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will visit Kuwait on Sunday as part of his 6-day trip that will also take him to Bahrain and Qatar, according to the Japanese government. Abe will leave here on Saturday for Manama, then fly to Kuwait on the next day. He will travel to Djibouti and Qatar before concluding the 4-nation tour. The government did not disclose detailed schedule of his trip. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said Wednesday that Abe is expected to enhance the comprehensive partnership with Middle Eastern countries toward stability and prosperity through meetings with leaders of the four countries. It will be Abe's second visit to Kuwait as premier since 2007. In March last year, HH the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah paid a state visit to Japan.