Abe leaves for Europe tour

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe left for Europe on Tuesday morning, beginning his first visit to Europe since taking office in September.

Abe told reporters shortly before leaving Tokyo that he would " show Japan's will to actively contribute to the world," and would explain his domestic policies to foreign leaders.

During his five-day tour, Abe will first hold a summit with British Prime Minister Tony Blair in London, and meet German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin, Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt in Brussels, French President Jacques Chirac in Paris, the Japanese foreign ministry said.

He is also scheduled to meet the heads of the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, and is to give a speech at the North Atlantic Council, NATO's top decision-making body, Kyodo News said.

Analysts said Abe goes to Europe with desires to promote a greater global security role for Japan and to garner support for Japan's bid for a permanent U.N. Security Council membership.

Source: Xinhua