Japanese PM kicks off 4-nation trip on ties

TOKYO - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Saturday kicked off his trips to three nations of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), namely Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar, and Northeast African country Djibouti on energy and security ties with the countries.

Abe is expected to improve Japan's relations with the three GCC members so as to secure its stable supply of energy resources such as crude oil and natural gas.

The prime minister will also urge the countries to enable Japanese companies to take part in the infrastructure construction in the countries, especially in Qatar that will host the 2022 Soccer World Cup.

"I hope I will be able to enhance our ties comprehensively, rather than focusing only on oil and other energy fields," Abe was quoted by local media as saying before his departure.

About 50 business leaders accompanied Abe in the trip and will hold a business forum in Qatar, according to local reports.

Abe will also urge the GCC member countries to resume stalled free trade negotiations between Japan and the GCC.

The prime minister's visit to Djibouti aims at working together with the country to fight against piracy in waters off Somalia.

On Friday, local media said that the Japanese Defense Ministry is mulling to dispatch resident officials tasked with military information gathering to Djibouti, along with other six Africa countries, to strengthen its intelligence collecting capability in the country.