Japan, Sri Lanka to cooperate on free Indo-Pacific strategy

March 15, 2018

Tokyo- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena on Wednesday agreed their countries will work together on Abe's push to make the Indo-Pacific region free and open.

Japan and Sri Lanka are "determined to make the Indo-Pacific region an international public good that will give peace and prosperity to all countries without prejudice," Abe said at a joint press conference after their meeting at the prime minister's office in Tokyo.

Sirisena said he and Abe agreed to continue close cooperation on important international issues.

Abe said that Japan will extend some 10.6 billion yen in soft loans to help Sri Lanka nurture medical experts and build hospitals.

The two leaders also confirmed that Japan and Sri Lanka will continue putting maximum pressure on North Korea to make the reclusive state abandon its nuclear and missile programs.

Abe asked the Sri Lankan leader for cooperation on resolving the issue of abductions of Japanese nationals by North Korea. Jiji Press