Japan's incoming Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has decided to appoint Toshimitsu Motegi as the country 's new trade minister, Japan's Kyodo News Agency reported Tuesday.

Motegi, the 57-year-old former financial services minister, will mainly deal with the country's energy issue, especially the nuclear power, and Japan's participation in the US-led Trans- Pacific Partnership.

Earlier, Abe also appointed Fumio Kishida as the country's new foreign minister.

Lower house lawmaker Kishida, 55, served as state minister in charge of Okinawa-related issues under Abe's previous government.

Abe hopes that Kishida could use his past experience to help resolve the thorny issue of relocating US air bases in Okinawa Prefecture and the territorial dispute between Japan and Russia, the report said.

Yoriko Kawaguchi, a 71-year-old upper house lawmaker of the LDP, was reportedly in lead to get the post under Abe's new Cabinet.

Abe is set to become Japan's new prime minister on Wednesday during a special session of the Diet and he is now mulling the suitable candidates to constitute his cabinet which will be formed immediately after he reclaims the premiership.

Former prime minister Taro Aso is likely to take the posts of finance minister, financial services minister and deputy prime minister, while Yoshihide Suga is expected to become chief secretary of the Cabinet, according to Kyodo.

Meanwhile, the LDP and its key ally, the New Komeito Party have achieved an agreement on forming a coalition government.



Abe will formally announce the LDP's new leadership lineup later Tuesday.