The government said Tuesday that Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang will make a state visit between March 16 and 19 and hold talks with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Sang will also deliver a speech at the Diet and meet with Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko, the Foreign Ministry said.

In discussions between Sang and Abe scheduled for March 18, the leaders are expected to discuss security and other issues in Asia, with an eye on China's increased maritime assertiveness and its territorial disputes with neighboring countries bordering the East and South China seas.