Japan’s Prime Minister Abe meets Vietnamese leaders

Japan’s Prime Minister Abe meets Vietnamese leaders (Photo: Dick Thomas Johnson/ flickr)

HANOI, Vietnam—Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is meeting with Vietnam’s leaders on the last stop of his 4-nation tour intended to boost Japan’s trade and security engagements in the region amid China’s rising dominance in Asia.

Abe and his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc reviewed an honour guard in Hanoi before heading for talks behind closed doors at the beginning of his two-day visit Monday.

Japan is one of Vietnam’s top investors and trading partners and is the communist country’s single largest bilateral donor.

The two countries are locked in separate maritime disputes with China.

Japan has provided Vietnam with six used patrol vessels to help strengthen maritime capability.

Abe has already visited the Philippines, Australia and Indonesia on his trip.