Japan and France agreed Monday to open talks on joint development of defense equipment, signed a document on developing fast-breeder reactor technology and confirmed plans to foster economic dialogue.

In addition to jointly producing unmanned submersibles for surveillance, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and French President Francois Hollande reached an accord to hold a summit meeting every year to the extent possible, according to a joint paper that was released after their talks in Paris.

"As the security situation in Europe and East Asia becomes increasingly severe, close coordination between the two countries has never been more necessary," Abe said as he greeted the press together with Hollande.