BANGKOK, Sept 19 – Japanese Defence Minister Itsunori Onodera (photo) on Wednesday paid an official visit to Thailand as part of his five-day overseas trip.
Onodera’s trip from Sept 15 to 19 also took him to Vietnam earlier, Thai News Agency (TNA) reported.
Thai Defence Ministry spokesman Colonel Thanathip Sawangsaeng said during a meeting between the Japanese minister and Thai Deputy Defence Minister General Yuthasak Sasiprapa in Bangkok on Wednesday, both sides agreed to boost bilateral cooperation between their military force.
Both sides also confirmed their stances on issues in the South China Sea, with Thailand to support the formulation of a code of conduct to guarantee peace and Japan to support security in the region.
Tokyo also expressed its intention to cooperate with other world powers such as China, South Korea and Russia.
In Thailand, Onodera was scheduled to meet with Thai Prime Minister and Defence Minister Yingluck Shinawatra with Tokyo’s defence policy and bilateral cooperation on anti-piracy expected to be featured in their talks.
– BERNAMA
