HANOI - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Monday that Japan will provide six patrol vessels to Vietnam as a part of a fresh yen-loan offer totaling 120 billion yen ($1 billion) to the Southeast Asian country to help its maritime safety efforts amid China's expanding activities at sea.

The patrol vessels are aimed at enhancing bilateral cooperation, Abe said at a press conference following talks with Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc in Hanoi, held at a time when uncertainty is looming over incoming U.S. President Donald Trump's commitment to the stability of the Asia-Pacific region.

Vietnam is embroiled in a territorial row with China in the South China Sea, along with four other governments.

Vietnam is Abe's last stop on a four-nation tour that also took him to the Philippines, Australia and Indonesia, which are, along with Vietnam, key Asia-Pacific countries Abe is seeking to strengthen ties with against the backdrop of the rise of China and uncertainties over Trump's Asian policy.

Amid concerns about the possible shift to a protectionist U.S. trade policy under Trump, the leaders are likely to have discussed the promotion of free trade, including the U.S.-led Trans-Pacific Partnership and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, of which both countries are members.

RCEP is an Asia-Pacific multilateral pact that -- unlike the TPP -- excludes the United States but includes China.

The outlook for the TPP is dim as Trump, who takes office Friday, has vowed to reject the deal in its current form.

Vietnam has yet to submit a proposal for the ratification of the TPP to the National Assembly.

The country's decision last year to withdraw contracts to build nuclear power reactors with Japanese assistance has provided a blow to the government of Abe who views the export of infrastructure as a pillar of his economic growth strategy.

Although Japan is not a claimant in the disputes in the South China Sea, it is also concerned about China's increasing military presence in the busy shipping lane and is keen to maintain a rules-based order at sea.

Tokyo itself is involved in a dispute with Beijing over the Japanese-controlled Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea that are claimed by China, which calls them Diaoyu.

Later Monday, Abe will also meet with President Tran Dai Quang and other top officials to help strengthen the bilateral relationship.