Japan, Germany agree to boost defence, security cooperation

DPA, 04TH FEBRUARY, 2019 - Visiting German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe agreed on Monday that the two countries would expand bilateral defence and security cooperation, the premier said.

As part of the effort, Merkel and Abe reached a broad agreement on the handling of classified information to facilitate the exchange of tip-offs relating to international crimes, including terrorism.

Merkel, who arrived in Tokyo earlier in the day for a two-day visit, said a free trade pact between Japan and the European Union, which took effect on Friday, will “send an important signal to the world.”

The Economic Partnership Agreement covers a third of the global economy.

“As a protectionism trend has spread in the world and Britain is heading for its exit from the European Union, the role played by Japan and Germany has become more and more important,”abe told reporters when the two leaders met at the prime minister’s office.

Merkel said she wanted to strengthen German-japanese economic and scientific ties. They weren’t starting from scratch, she said, but could expand on the commitment of 450 German companies already working in Japan.

The two leaders also discussed China’s assertiveness at sea, North Korea’s nuclear programme and Britain’s exit from the European Union.

The chancellor offered to collaborate on the Japanese agenda for the G20 summit in Osaka in late June. Japan plans to take up the issues of “society 5.0” and deal with data security and ethics.“these are topics that also weigh on our minds,” Merkel said.