Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio (Photo: Kyodo/ VNA)

The official made the remark at a press conference in Tokyo on Thursday, during which he announced that PM Kishida will visit Vietnam on Saturday and Sunday.

During the visit, Mr. Kishida is scheduled to hold talks with his Vietnamese counterpart Pham Minh Chinh and meet Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, President Nguyen Xuan Phuc, and National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue.

In addition to Vietnam, the Japanese PM will visit two other Southeast Asian countries, Indonesia and Thailand.

PM Kishida’s upcoming visit to Southeast Asia aims to strengthen cooperation with the three countries toward a free and open Indo-Pacific region and to increase the coordination on the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific.