Japan to Supply Patrol Boats to Malaysia: Kono

July 12, 2018

Putrajaya, Malaysia- Japan will supply patrol boats to Malaysia so that the Southeast Asian country can enforce law at sea, visiting Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono has said.

Japan will also cooperate with Malaysia in the areas of infrastructure investment and the fight against terrorism, Kono told reporters after a meeting with Malaysian Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah on Wednesday.

The two ministers exchanged views on China's increasing maritime assertiveness. Kono asked Malaysia to work with Japan in realizing a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

Kono and Saifuddin agreed that the current international sanctions on North Korea should be kept in place until Pyongyang takes action to fully abandon its nuclear weapons and missiles.

Kono also asked for Malaysia's participation in the revised Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade deal that have 11 member countries.

Also on Tuesday, Kono met with Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.

Kono stressed the importance of resolving the issues of North Korea's missile and nuclear programs and abductions of Japanese citizens comprehensively, while Mahathir called for further investment in Malaysia by Japan. Jiji Press