ANKARA: Japan and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on Thursday agreed to further advance the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two sides. The agreement came during 27th ASEAN-Japan Summit in Laos capital Vientiane, attended by Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and regional leaders. "The Summit reaffirmed both sides' commitment to further advancing the ASEAN-Japan Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) established last year, and discussed future direction of the relations based on mutual trust, respect, benefit, win-win cooperation and equal partnership," said a brief statement by ASEAN on X. This is Prime Minister Ishiba's first foreign visit after taking office on Oct. 1. It came a day after he dissolved the parliament for a snap election on Oct. 27. Ishiba, who arrived in Vientiane early Thursday, is expected to separately meet South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol, Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Source: Anadolu Agency