Abe Meets with Thai, Vietnamese Leaders

Milan, Oct. 16 (Jiji Press)--Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held talks separately with Thai junta leader and Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha and Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung on the sidelines of a regional meeting in Milan Thursday. At his first meeting with Prayuth, Abe asked Thailand to remove its import restrictions on Japanese foods introduced after the March 2011 nuclear accident at Tokyo Electric Power Co.'s <9501> Fukushima No. 1 power station. Prayuth promised to ease the restrictions early. Abe also expressed his strong hope for a swift transition of the Southeast Asian country to civilian rule. The two leaders also agreed that Prayuth will visit Japan early. Abe and Dung confirmed that Japan and Vietnam will work even more closely in the area of maritime security amid China's provocative acts in the East and South China seas. The Japanese leader said his country hopes to make more contributions to the peace and stability of Asia. END