Tokyo (VNA) – Japanese news agency Kyodo ran articles highlightingPrime Minister Suga Yoshihide’s official visit to Vietnam, including his talkswith his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc on October 19, during whichthe two are expected to discuss numerous issues, particularly economiccooperation.

During the bilateral talks, Suga is expected to promoteefforts to achieve a “free and open Indo-Pacific,” and agree with Phuc tofacilitate the cross-border flow of medical supplies and other goods, Kyodoreported, citing sources of Japanese officials.

Japan is looking to diversify its supply chain to mitigaterisks brought to light by the COVID-19 crisis, including its reliance onChinese imports for face masks.

The government is handing out subsidies to firms that moveproduction to Southeast Asia, which is both geographically well-placed and canprovide relatively cheap labour.

Of the 30 firms chosen so far to receive the subsidies,ranging from manufacturers of medical gowns and disinfectant wipes to carengine parts, half are planning to set up in Vietnam.

The Japanese PM is also slated later in the day to make apolicy speech at the Vietnam Japan University, which opened in 2016 withfunding from both countries.

After meeting with other Vietnamese political leaders, Sugawill fly to Jakarta on October 19, the second leg of his first foreign tripsince taking office, for talks with Indonesian President Joko Widodo./.