China News Service, August 31. According to a report by the Japan Broadcasting Association (NHK), on the evening of the 30th local time, Fumio Kishida, the head of the government affairs investigation of the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan, held talks with Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso in Tokyo. After the meeting, Kishida told reporters that he had indicated to Aso that he would run for the next president of the Liberal Democratic Party.

Data map: Fumio Kishida, head of the government affairs investigation committee of the Japanese Liberal Democratic Party. China News Agency issued Zhang Ming photo

  According to reports, the two-person meeting lasted about an hour. After the meeting, Kishida told the media that he had indicated to Aso that he would run for the next president of the Liberal Democratic Party and sought support from Aso.

  According to the report, Kishida also stated that he is currently preparing for the election, but he will formally announce his candidacy after the election schedule is determined. According to NHK analysis, the election schedule may be officially finalized on September 1.

  Fumio Kishida served as Japan's foreign minister from 2012 to 2017, and was the second-longest foreign minister in Japan after the war, second only to Shigeru Yoshida.

  Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said at a press conference on August 28 that he will resign as prime minister. The Liberal Democratic Party will consider holding a presidential election on September 15.