Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga is set to visit Vietnam and Indonesia in mid-October for his first overseas trip as prime minister, several government sources said Wednesday.
The itinerary is intended to demonstrate his stance of placing importance on cooperation with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, bearing in mind that China is gaining more influence in the region.
Suga is expected to hold summits with Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Indonesian President Joko Widodo. The Japanese government will make a final decision on the trip while monitoring the novel coronavirus infection situation in both countries.
Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe also visited the two countries, among others, on his first foreign trip after the inauguration of his second administration.
Suga will convey his intention to follow Abe's diplomatic policies, including the "free and open Indo-Pacific," during his visit to the two countries.
Vietnam is this year's ASEAN chair and Indonesia has the largest population in the region. Tensions are rising in Southeast Asia over the South China Sea, where China is pressing ahead with militarization, and Suga is expected to stress the importance of the rule of law, among other issues.
Because of the novel coronavirus pandemic, Abe's trip to the Middle East in January was the last time a Japanese prime minister traveled overseas.
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