Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (front C) leads female cabinet ministers as they prepare for a photo session at his official residence in Tokyo September 3, 2014. Abe picked two veteran lawmakers with friendly ties to China for top party posts on Wednesday in an apparent signal of hope for a thaw in chilly ties with Beijing and a summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Abe also gave women almost a third of the posts in his 18-minister cabinet to show his commitment to promoting women as part of his "Abenomics" growth strategy. The female ministers are: (L-R) Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Yuko Obuchi, Gender Equality Minister and minister for promoting women Haruko Arimura, Justice Minister Midori Matsushima, Minister-in-Charge of the Abduction Issue and head of the National Public Safety Commission Eriko Yamatani and Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Sanae Takaichi. REUTERS/Yuya Shino (JAPAN - Tags: POLITICS BUSINESS)