Japan and Nigeria agreed Tuesday to build a "special partnership" to deal with African problems and cooperate in combating infectious diseases such as AIDS.

In talks with Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, visiting Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo asked Japan to follow the U.S. and provide financial support for fighting Africa's AIDS problem, a Foreign Ministry official said.

President George W. Bush pledged $200 million when Obasanjo visited the U.S. earlier this month.