Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi will visit two Central Asian countries, Mongolia and two Pacific island nations, the Japanese government said Thursday, as Tokyo seeks cooperation in responding to Russia’s aggression in Ukraine and other issues.

Hayashi will first make a five-day trip through Monday, visiting Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Mongolia. Then he will make a three-day tour from May 6 to Fiji and Palau.

He will meet with his counterparts and leaders of the countries.

In Mongolia, Hayashi will seek support in resolving the issue of North Korea’s past abductions of Japanese nationals, the officials said. Ulaanbaatar keeps close ties with Pyongyang. Tokyo, which has no diplomatic ties with North Korea, has often looked to Mongolia to act as a mediator.