New Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Sunday stressed the importance of realizing a free and open Indo-Pacific, a vision conceived by the late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, during her meeting with leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.Her commitment comes as Takaichi, who became Japan's first female prime minister last Tuesday, shares many of the views on history, national security and the economy held by Abe, who laid out the vision in 2016, six years before he was assassinated.At the Japan-ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur, Takaichi, on her first overseas trip since taking office, said she will seek to further bolster ties and promote cooperation, with China's maritime assertiveness apparently in mind.Japan believes it is vital to build closer relations with countries …