KUALA LUMPUR (Kyodo) -- Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba began Thursday a four-day trip to Malaysia and Indonesia to sit down with their leaders as Tokyo aims to strengthen economic and security ties with the Southeast Asian nations.

Japan views members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations as important partners in its advocacy for a free and open Indo-Pacific and in ensuring a rules-based order in a region where China's influence is growing.

The trip marks the first time Ishiba, who became Japan's prime minister in October, will travel overseas solely for bilateral summits.

"I plan to take time to discuss (with the Malaysian and Indonesian leaders) the future of this region, security issues and how the realization of a free and open Indo-Pacific will contribute to the peace and security of the international community," Ishiba told reporters before leaving Tokyo's Haneda airport.

"We are placing more importance than ever on our relations with Southeast Asia when the global environment is increasingly becoming uncertain," he said.

Ishiba arrived in Malaysia, a nation located near key shipping lanes, on Thursday, a day before he is set to meet with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to discuss security cooperation and efforts to secure stable supply chains. Malaysia is this year's ASEAN chair.

Ishiba will then visit Indonesia, where he and President Prabowo Subianto are expected to agree on Saturday for Japan to provide high-speed patrol boats, according to Japanese officials.

Indonesia is among nations that receive defense equipment transfers from Japan under a program intended to bolster security ties with like-minded nations.