Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Thursday departed on a three-day trip to Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines to strengthen economic and security relations with the region.
The premier’s third visit to member countries of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) since taking office in December showed his efforts to deepen ties with the fast-growing region amid strained relations with China and South Korea.
The premier was due to arrive in Kuala Lumpur later in the day, where he was to hold talks with Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak.
On Friday, Abe is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in Singapore and also hold talks with US Vice-President Joe Biden, who will be in the city-state after his trip to India.
On Saturday, the premier is scheduled to meet with Philippine President Benigno Aquino in Manila.
Abe travelled to Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia in January and Myanmar in May.
ASEAN groups are Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.