Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and New Zealand counterpart John Key agreed Monday to work on concluding the Trans-Pacific free trade talks as soon as possible and to improve defense cooperation as Japan sheds its pacifist stance and seeks a more active security role.
During talks in Auckland, Abe explained Japan's decision to reinterpret the Constitution to allow its troops to defend allies under armed attack under collective self-defense, and Key expressed support for the major policy change, Abe said.
Japan and New Zealand will also study the possibility of signing an acquisition and cross-serving agreement that would enable the Self-Defense Forces and the New Zealand Defense Force to exchange supplies and services, Abe said.