Japanese PM travels to Malaysia to strengthen ties with ASEAN

Tokyo, Jan 9 (Prensa Latina) Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba traveled to Malaysia on Thursday to strengthen economic and security alliances with the countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

January 9, 2025
10:13

On January 1, Malaysia took over the presidency of ASEAN, a group composed of Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Brunei, and Myanmar.

According to the Japanese Government, Ishiba will meet with his Malaysian counterpart, Anwar Ibrahim, on Friday to strengthen bilateral cooperation on security issues and ensure the chain’s supply stability.

The Japanese prime minister will later visit Indonesia to sign, along with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, an agreement through which Japan will supply high-speed patrol boats.

Such security ties are not new; Japan has long had a program focused on transferring defense equipment with some nations. Indonesia is the Southeast Asia’s country with the largest population and economy.

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