Tokyo. Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Thursday began a trip to Malaysia and Indonesia as part of an effort to strengthen defense and economic ties with Southeast Asia as China's threats grow in the region.

The meeting between Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin and his Japanese counterpart Nakatani Gen in Jakarta serves as a prelude to an upcoming meeting between President Prabowo Subianto and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba in Indonesia.

Among their agreements, both countries will jointly develop hydrogen energy and partner in the post-war reconstruction of Gaza Malaysia and Japan on Friday agreed to develop carbon capture and hydrogen green energy projects,