Japan and Australia agreed August 1 to expand cooperation for stability and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region, according to Foreign Ministry officials.

"It is very important that Australia and Japan work together to contribute toward a more stable Asia-Pacific region," Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer told a news conference held jointly with his Japanese counterpart, Yukihiko Ikeda, after the 14th Australia-Japan Ministerial Committee Meeting in Tokyo.

The two foreign ministers agreed to extend cooperation to Cambodia, if necessary, in order to establish fair elections next May, the officials said. The two countries adopted a bilateral partnership agenda covering 18 areas of cooperation at the ministerial meeting.

On security cooperation, Japan and Australia agreed on the importance of the U.S. military presence in the Asia-Pacific region and "will work together to sustain the United States' important regional role," the partnership agenda said. Australia and Japan will also seek to further expand bilateral security and defense dialogue by examining, for example, ways to increase exchanges between the Australian Defense Forces and the Self-Defense Forces, according to the agenda.

Downer said Australian Defense Minister Ian McLachlan will visit Japan in early September to promote bilateral exchanges. Japan expressed support for Australia's entry into the Asia-Europe Meeting, while Australia reconfirmed its strong support for Japan's efforts to obtain permanent membership on the United Nations Security Council.