Tokyo

JAPANESE Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's effort to step up economic and strategic diplomacy on the world stage, in competition with China, is set to take a step forward this week when he visits Havana for talks with Cuban President Raul Castro.

The Cuba visit - the first by a Japanese prime minister - has strong significance for Japan, analysts say, in that it comes at a time when China is strengthening ties with Cuba and also because Havana's traditionally warm relations with North Korea could possibly help Tokyo improve ties with Pyongyang.