President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe agreed today to strengthen cooperation on maritime security at a time when China has been expanding its influence in the Indian Ocean country.

A joint statement issued after their meeting in Colombo said that the two leaders agreed to launch intergovernmental talks on marine pollution and environmental protection.

Abe announced that Japan will study the provision of patrol ships to Sri Lanka so that the island country can boost its security capabilities.

The two leaders also agreed to promote cooperation between Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force and the Sri Lanka Navy.

Sri Lanka has geographical importance for Japan as imports of oil from the Middle East are transported via the Indian Ocean. Abe’s visit to the country is the first by an incumbent Japanese prime minister in 24 years.

The leaders also discussed the membership of the U.N. Security Council and agreed to work together to expand both permanent and nonpermanent seats and implement other reforms in 2015, which will mark the 70th anniversary of the United Nations.

Abe, meanwhile, welcomed Sri Lanka’s decision to introduce a Japanese standard for digital terrestrial broadcasting and promised to provide ¥13.7 billion worth of low-interest loans for the installation of related facilities.

He arrived in Sri Lanka from Bangladesh early afternoon today and took part in the initiaion of the construction of the second terminal in Bandaranaike International Airport. He and will return home tomorrow.

His visits to Bangladesh and Sri Lanka bring to 49 the number of countries he has visited since taking office in December 2012 — the most for any Japanese prime minister.