Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and French President Francois Hollande have agreed at a summit on the need for a strong U.N. resolution to stop Syria from using chemical weapons, while pledging cooperation on decommissioning the Fukushima No. 1 plant, a Japanese official said.
At their meeting Tuesday in New York, Abe told Hollande that his administration will work hard to bolster international efforts to provide aid for Syrian refugees and Hollande supported the position, the official said.
The two leaders discussed the Syrian crisis amid continuing debate in the United Nations on whether a Security Council resolution should contentiously refer to Chapter 7 of the U.N. Charter, which could allow the use of force if Syria failed to comply.
Hollande described the growing humanitarian situation as critical and said France will work with Japan to improve conditions for the refugees, the official said.
Abe meanwhile assured Hollande that his government will do its utmost to scrap the six-reactor Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant.
Abe said Tokyo will disclose accurate information about the ongoing work to contain the radioactive materials and intends to work closely with France, with Hollande promising reciprocal cooperation, the official said.