Ishiba Leaves for Malaysia, Indonesia

Tokyo, Jan. 9 (Jiji Press)--Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba left for Malaysia and Indonesia on Thursday as he seeks to strengthen his country's maritime security cooperation with the two Southeast Asian countries in an apparent effort to counter threats from China.

"In an increasingly uncertain international community, I'd like to attach greater importance to our relations with Southeast Asia than ever before," Ishiba told reporters at the prime minister's office in Tokyo ahead of departure.

Ishiba is scheduled to hold talks with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in Malaysia on Friday and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto in Indonesia on Saturday.

Except for a visit to South America to attend international conferences in November, the tour of the two Southeast Asian countries marks Ishiba's first overseas trip since taking office in October.

Ishiba and Anwar are expected to discuss ways to maintain and strengthen a free and open international order based on the rule of law. Malaysia is this year's chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

[Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]