Japan’s Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru has sat down for talks with the leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Laos.
Ishiba arrived in the Laotian capital of Vientiane early Thursday morning for a series of ASEAN-related meetings and bilateral summits.
The prime minister is expected to stress his intent to contribute to regional peace and stability during his first visit abroad after taking office on October 1.
In his meeting with the ASEAN leaders, Ishiba hopes to further strengthen the trusted partner relationship between Japan and the bloc.
He is expected to call for cooperation in a broad range of fields, including energy, security and digitalization, to maintain and strengthen a free and open international order.
The prime minister is also expected to exchange views on the situation in the East and South China Seas, where China is growing more assertive, as well as North Korea’s abduction issue and its nuclear and missile programs.
Ishiba is scheduled to attend a summit of ASEAN and Japan, China and South Korea later on Thursday. He will also hold bilateral talks with South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol, Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
His overseas trip comes after he dissolved the Lower House for a snap election on Wednesday, prompting parties and candidates to effectively start campaign activities.
He has stressed the importance of fully engaging in summit diplomacy soon after becoming prime minister, and is hoping to forge relationships with leaders of other nations during the visit.