Japan and Qatar agreed Friday that stability in the Middle East serves as a foundation for international peace and prosperity and pledged to cooperate on addressing the threat of terrorism.

At a summit with Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, at his office in Tokyo, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe reiterated his resolve to contribute to peace in the Middle East through "nonmilitary" aid.

"We have to shut down the extremists. Our determination to contribute to stability in the Middle East increased" following the recent Islamic State group hostage crisis, Abe said. "As a responsible member of the international community, (Japan) will fulfill its responsibility firmly in nonmilitary fields by extending humanitarian aid such as food and medicine."