Yuji Kuroiwa, Governor of Japan’s Kanagawa prefecture (Photo: VNA)

Governor Kuroiwa told reporters after he and Vietnamese Ambassador Vu Hong Nam visited the PM on Thursday that Mr. Suga is looking forward to the Vietnam visit, and highly values Vietnam's role in ASEAN.

PM Suga is scheduled to visit Vietnam and Indonesia from October 18-21. This is his first trip abroad since he took office in mid-September.