Tokyo: Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi said Tuesday he will visit six Southwest Asian and African countries for nine days from Thursday.

The tour is aimed at deepening Japan’s relations with so-called Global South emerging and developing nations.

Through the tour, Hayashi hopes to affirm cooperation with the six countries–India, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, South Africa, Uganda and Ethiopia–for realizing a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

“It is becoming more and more important to tackle various issues while standing by these nations,” Hayashi said at a press conference.

JIJI Press