Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has left Australia for Papua New Guinea, the final leg of his 3-nation tour of Oceania.
Abe and Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott signed an economic partnership agreement and a pact to jointly develop defense equipment, according to Japan's (NHK WORLD) website.
The visit will be the first to the country by a Japanese prime minister in 29 years.
Abe is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Peter O'Neill later in the day.
He hopes to confirm with O'Neill that Papua New Guinea will cooperate to ensure the stable supply of liquefied natural gas to Japan.
He also plans to convey Japan's willingness to help build social infrastructure through official development assistance and other means.
The Japanese prime minister is apparently mindful of China's diplomatic efforts to secure natural resources and its growing presence in emerging economies.