Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and French President Emmanuel Macron agreed Tuesday to coordinate closely in addressing global economic, trade and environmental issues before Japan hosts the Group of 20 summit in June.

They also agreed on bilateral cooperation to set international rules on trading of goods and services that involves the transfer of data, referred to as data trading.

The two leaders have confirmed plans to cooperate on pushing for reforms at the World Trade Organization to fight protectionism, and on maintaining U.N. sanctions against North Korea aimed at inducing Pyongyang's denuclearization, Japanese government officials said after the meeting.