France, May 1 -- The six-day itinerary will see Kishida meet French President Emmanuel Macron as well as Brazilian leader Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

In December Macron and Kishida adopted a "common roadmap" aimed at intensifying cooperation in defence and nuclear power while also agreeing to "coordinate closely in the face of international crises".

The 21-page document expressed worry about China's growing assertiveness, especially in the South China Sea and to "oppose any action that ... endangers regional stability and the international rule-based order".

It also stressed the importance of the yearly meeting of South Pacific Defence Ministers (SPDMM), which was hosted last December by France in New Caledonia, and reiterated the joint...