(Brunei Darussalam) – Japan and Southeast Asian countries have pledged to boost economic and security ties, a day after they agreed on the importance of ensuring freedom of the skies. The leaders were discussing increasing exchanges of top diplomats and defence officials and closer coastguard cooperation, finalising a three-day special summit between Japan and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), officials said.
Tokyo pledged $20 billion in aid and loans to Southeast Asia at the summit with leaders of the Asean regional bloc, the latest step in its bid to woo global public opinion in its territorial dispute with China.
