Japan PM Abe to visit Darwin in first since World War II: Reports

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will visit Darwin in November, Australian media reported on Saturday (Sep 22).

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe waves to the media upon his arrival at his official residence in Tokyo, Japan September 18, 2018. Eugene Hoshiko/Pool via Reuters

Abe will tour a USD 40 billion liquefied natural gas (LNG) project run by Japanese company Inpex Corp, according to media reports from Sky News and ABC News.

He will also use the visit to cement military ties with Australia following an agreement between the two countries to conduct joint training exercises and increase defence cooperation, the reports said.

Abe's visit to Darwin would be the first by a Japanese leader since the Japanese military struck its key military port, killing more than 250 people across multiple bombings in 1942 and 1943, media said.

Abe will make the visit to Darwin before attending an APEC leaders' summit in Port Moresby, ABC News said./.

VNF/Reuters