Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has offered to boost maritime cooperation with Sri Lankan counterpart President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Sunday, in a move widely believed to be part of Japan's efforts to blunt Chinese influence in the region.

During the summit in Colombo on Sunday, the two leaders agreed to forge a partnership to strengthen maritime security cooperation that would effectively open shipping lanes for oil and natural gas from the Middle East to Japan.

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Abe also offered to provide additional patrol vessels to Sri Lanka to augment the latter's coast guard capabilities and facilitate human resource cooperation.

Ahead of the meeting, the two leaders signed a joint statement solidifying their pledge to cooperate on maritime issues between the two nations.

This marks the first time a Japanese prime minister travelled to Sri Lanka in nearly 24 years. This is also the first time Japan has formally offered aid to a country in the Indian Ocean.

Observers note Abe's push to improve ties with Sri Lanka is due in part to Japan's attempt to exert more power in the region.

Nanda Godaga, a former Sri Lankan official with knowledge of Japanese foreign policy, said the Japanese are aware of China's influence in the territory and plans to counter it.

For years, Japan had been Sri Lanka's largest aid supporter but was overtaken by China in 2009.

While Japan has maintained bilateral relations with Sri Lanka, the former has lagged behind Beijing in terms of financial assistance and quick action, said an economist.

China has been aggressive in providing material aid to countries in the region.

Specifically, China is responsible for the "String of Pearls" - a term given to the strategically placed ports and maritime facilities it has acquired and constructed through the years. It runs along sea lanes in the Middle East including Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

Japan is aware of China's influence in the region but hopes to set itself apart through immaterial aid.

For instance, it plans to send maritime personnel to the region for joint training sessions in the enforcement of maritime laws and risk avoidance strategies.

"China provides only material assistance," said a top ministry official.

"We want the countries to judge which is better from a long-term perspective," he added.

TagsSri Lanka, Mahinda Rajapaksa, maritime cooperation, Japan-Sri Lanka relations, Japan-China relations