Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi is considering visiting the United States in late May and the Middle East in early June to discuss postconflict Iraq with his counterparts, a government official said Wednesday.
Koizumi may also visit Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Iran, the official said.
He hopes to discuss with leaders of Mideast countries how to help rehabilitate and reconstruct Iraq, the official said. He will urge them to cooperate with the international community despite anti-American sentiment in some countries due to the invasion of Iraq, according to the official.
Koizumi plans to visit the U.S. around May 28, shortly before the June 1-3 summit meeting of the Group of Eight major economies in Evian, France, the official said.