Japanese PM Shinzo Abe begins South Asia trip

Tokyo: Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe left for Bangladesh and Sri Lanka on Saturday in a move to boost Japan's trade and investment in the counties.

Abe will hold talks with his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina on Saturday in Dhaka and Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa in Colombo on Sunday, Xinhua reported.

"I hope to strengthen relationships with the two countries. I am going there as Japan's leader and top salesman, and hope to use their dynamism to revitalize Japan's economy," Abe was quoted as saying before his departure.