Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Thursday agreed to strengthen economic and security ties with Thailand during a visit to Southeast Asia aimed at reinforcing alliances amid tensions over China’s growing assertiveness.
Abe, making his first overseas trip since taking office last month, said on Thursday he and Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra agreed to work together to solve bilateral and regional problems, including in East Asia, where “there is a great change in the strategic environment.”
Tensions between Japan and China have escalated since September, when the Japanese central government purchased a group of East China Sea islands controlled by Japan but also claimed by China.
He said the two countries will also reinforce relations between Japan and the 10-nation bloc Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN.
In comments to reporters at a joint press conference, the two leaders did not directly mention the South China Sea, where several Southeast Asian countries have territorial disputes with China.
Yingluck said they agreed to cooperate in promoting peace and stability to facilitate economic growth in Asia.