Prime Minister Shinzo Abe embarked Monday on an eight-day European and North American trip hoping to rally support to jointly tackle global issues such as free trade as chair of this year's Group of 20 summit.

With China seeking greater influence with its "Belt and Road" infrastructure scheme in Europe, Abe is expected to push Japan's own initiative — highlighting its aim of helping other nations build "high-quality" infrastructure that supports economic growth and ensures fiscal sustainability.

But Abe will also try to strike a balance in such discussions amid a recent thaw in Japan-China ties, as Tokyo prepares for President Xi Jinping's first visit to Japan as China's leader for the G20 summit in Osaka in late June.