DHAKA: Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe visited the resources-rich Pilbara region of Western Australia on Wednesday, in a recognition of the key role its minerals have played in his country’s economic growth.

Abe travelled with Australian prime minister Tony Abbott to Rio Tinto’s West Angelas mine, where he toured the site and observed the use of Japanese technology in state-of-the-art equipment.

Both Japan and China have competed for resources in the Asian region, with Australia benefiting from the energy-hungry countries as economic growth boosted demand.

Resource-poor Japan was one of Australia’s first mining clients and remains a key buyer of its iron ore, the country’s largest export, a point hammered home by both Abbott and Rio chief Sam Walsh.

BDST: 1718 HRS, JULY 09, 2014