Japanese PM kicks off South Asia trip on ties

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

Abe plans to promote Japan's trade and investment in talks with his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina on Saturday in Dhaka and Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa in Colombo on Sunday, according to officials here.

"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.