Japanese PM leaves for Turkey

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Monday left for Istanbul to enhance his country's economic relations Turkey. During his three-day visit, Abe will hold talks with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in which the two leaders are expected to discuss bilateral economic ties and construction of Turkey's second nuclear power plant. Speaking to reporters prior to his departure from Tokyo's Haneda airport, Abe said, "Turkey is a strategically important country for Japan. I hope to deepen mutual trust between the leaders. The premier also said he plans to exchange views with Erdogan on Syrian situation. It is Abe's second trip to Turkey since May, when the prime ministers signed a bilateral agreement that enables Japanese manufacturers to build nuclear power plants in Turkey. While in Istanbul, Abe is also scheduled to attend the opening ceremony of a subway line, which will pass through the Bosporus Strait via undersea tunnel to link the European and Asian sides of the city. Japan had partly finance the development project.