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On October 18, 2020, the Prime Minister held a press conference at Tokyo International Airport (Haneda Airport).

Regarding his visit to Vietnam and Indonesia, the Prime Minister said,

“I am heading to Viet Nam and Indonesia on my first trip since becoming prime minister, as you have just mentioned. First, I intend to forge solid cooperative relationships aimed at recovery from the novel coronavirus.

I also want to confirm our cooperation regarding the various issues each country faces.

Furthermore, with a view to developing our future bilateral relations and Japan’s relations with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), I aim to build a relationship of trust by holding thoroughgoing talks with the leaders of both countries.

I believe that ASEAN will be absolutely critical key and also a partner for realizing the ‘free and open Indo-Pacific’ that Japan is promoting.

Japan, as an Indo-Pacific nation, will resolutely demonstrate both domestically and overseas the determination it has to contribute to the peace and prosperity of this region.”