Chinese ride-sharing platform Didi Chuxing announced Friday that it will partner with Japanese conglomerate SoftBank to enter the Japanese market.

The partnership will use DiDi technology to raise the efficiency of taxi operators and drivers in Japan, according to the company.

DiDi and SoftBank aim to set up a joint venture in Japan and start services this year.

The partners will engage with local industry practitioners, policymakers and other stakeholders to build a platform suitable for all Japanese taxi operators, according to DiDi.

DiDi has about 2 million drivers connected to its mobile app, who completed 1.1 billion rides in 2017, the company said.