Welcoming ceremony for Japanese PM in Hanoi

A welcome ceremony was held for the new Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga at the Vietnamese Presidential Palace in Hanoi on Monday. Suga had left on Sunday for his first overseas foray since taking over from former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe last month bound for Vietnam and Indonesia.

The choice to visit Southeast Asia underscores Japan’s efforts to build stronger economic and defense ties in the region.  After the welcome ceremony, Suga is expected to sign a defense equipment and technology transfer agreement with Vietnam. The agreement is part of efforts to promote exports of Japanese-made military equipment.