TOKYO, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- Shigeki Takizaki, a senior Foreign Ministry official, was named by Japan on Tuesday as its new top diplomat for Asian affairs.

Takizaki, 57, will take over from Kenji Kanasugi as director general of the ministry's Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau, with the move effective from Sept. 9, the government said.

Kanasugi, 59, for his part, who has been in his current post for just over three years, will take over from Kazuyuki Yamazaki, 58, as senior deputy foreign minister for economic affairs.

Since 2017, Takizaki's roles as head of the ministry's Southeast and Southwest Asian Affairs have included being in charge of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, India and other Southwest Asian countries.

Takizaki also headed up the preparations for the 2016 Group of Seven (G7) summit held in the central Japan city of Ise.

The government has also said that Shigeo Yamada, 55, who currently serves at the secretariat of the National Security Council, will be moved to take charge at the Foreign Ministry's Foreign Policy Bureau.

Masato Otaka, 57, meanwhile, will serve as the ministry's press secretary, the government has said.