Prime Minister Shinzo Abe agreed Thursday with his British counterpart, David Cameron, to boost bilateral security cooperation, including sharing military supplies and jointly developing defense equipment.

Meeting at No. 10 Downing St., the two leaders also agreed to seek a substantive agreement in 2015 on free trade negotiations between Japan and the European Union, the first time such a specific goal has been stated in a leaders' statement. Britain is one of the 28 members of the bloc.

On security issues, Abe and Cameron said in a statement released after the summit that their countries will launch negotiations on sharing supplies and transportation services between the Self-Defense Forces and the British military under an acquisition and cross-servicing agreement, also known as an ACSA.