British Prime Minister Tony Blair and his visiting Japanese
counterpart said on Tuesday that their two countries would forge
closer ties to strengthen counter-proliferation.
"Proliferation of WMD, their means of delivery and related
materials represent a major challenge to international peace and
security," the two men said in a joint statement issued after talks
at 10 Downing Street.
Britain and Japan "reaffirm the importance of strengthening and
maintaining the international disarmament and non proliferation
regime based on the NPT, and in this regard, we intend to further
cooperate in the NPT review process and PSI." they said.
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"We express our grave concern over the recent developments on the
Korean Peninsula including the missile launch and the proclaimed
nuclear test and urge North Korea to comply with UN Security
Council Resolution 1718, especially to abandon all nuclear weapons
and existing nuclear programs." said the statement.
According to the statement, the UK and Japan will continue
working together to achieve early reform of the United Nations
Security Council, whilst Britain will continue to back Japan's bid
for Permanent Membership of the UN Security Council.
At the joint news conference, Blair said, "the membership of the
UN Security Council of Japan is an important change and reform. I
believe the moment is right for this to happen."
During the meeting, the two leaders announced further close
cooperation on Iraq, Afghanistan, anti-terrorism, and climate
change.
Abe arrived in London on Tuesday kicking off his first visit to
Europe since taking office in September last year. During his
five-day trip, Abe will also meet with German Chancellor Angela
Merkel in Berlin, Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt in
Brussels, and French President Jacques Chirac in Paris, cementing
ties across Europe.
According to Kyodo News, Abe is also scheduled to meet the heads
of the European Union and North Atlantic Treaty Organization
(NATO), and will deliver a speech at the North Atlantic Council,
NATO's top decision-making body.
In the speech, Abe will express Japan's desire to expand its
role in areas such as peace-keeping, post-conflict reconstruction
assistance and disaster relief.
"Of course, while staying within the framework of the
constitution, Japan must not be cowardly as it has been in the
past. We are prepared to make an active contribution," Abe said in
an interview on last Friday at his official residence.
Close US ally Japan has already stretched the limits of its
post-World War II constitution, banning the maintenance of a
military but this has been interpreted as allowing forces for
self-defence.
Abe's predecessor, Junichiro Koizumi, sent non-combat troops to
Iraq and late last year Japan's parliament enacted legislation
allowing overseas missions to be a key role of Japan's
military.
Abe will also seek European support for the tough line
Washington and Tokyo are adopting with Pyongyang after its missile
and nuclear tests last year. He will also seek backing for efforts
to resolve a dispute over Japanese abducted decades ago by
Pyongyang to help train North Korean spies in Japanese language and
culture.
"I would like to show them Japan's will to actively contribute
to the world," Abe told reporters before departing.
(Xinhua News Agency, China Daily via agencies January
10, 2007)
