Japan and Saudi Arabia agreed Wednesday to accelerate bilateral talks for a civil nuclear cooperation accord that would enable Japanese manufacturers to export reactors to the Middle Eastern country.
The agreement came as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe met with Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Salman bin Abdul-Aziz in Tokyo, where they also agreed that the two countries should enhance security cooperation through dialogue between their foreign and defense officials, a Japanese government official said.
"I would like to strengthen further the comprehensive partnership between the two countries," Abe said at the start of the meeting. The crown prince, who is also deputy prime minister and defense minister, said he will seek to "further develop the existing cooperative relationship."