Abe, Trump Unlikely to Release Joint Statement

Tokyo, May 20 (Jiji Press)--Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and U.S. President Donald Trump are unlikely to issue a joint statement after their upcoming summit in Tokyo next week, Japanese government sources said Monday. The Japanese and U.S. governments apparently believe that it would be difficult for the two leaders to issue a joint statement, with no prospect in sight for an agreement in the bilateral trade negotiations, the sources said. Trump will visit Japan for four days from Saturday. His meeting with Abe is set for May 27. The U.S. president will meet with Emperor Naruhito also on May 27, becoming the first foreign leader to do so since the new Emperor assumed the throne on May 1. During his visit, Trump will also attend a banquet at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, play golf with Abe in Chiba Prefecture and watch sumo matches at the Ryogoku Kokugikan arena in Tokyo. The two leaders issued a "good joint statement" when they held their first summit in February 2017, a Japanese government source said, adding that another joint statement is not being considered this time. END