British Prime Minister Tony Blair and his visiting Japanese counterpart said on Tuesday that their two countries would forge closer ties to strengthen counter-proliferation.

"Proliferation of WMD, their means of delivery and related materials represent a major challenge to international peace and security," the two men said in a joint statement issued after talks at 10 Downing Street.

Britain and Japan "reaffirm the importance of strengthening and maintaining the international disarmament and non proliferation regime based on the NPT, and in this regard, we intend to further cooperate in the NPT review process and PSI." they said.
 
"We express our grave concern over the recent developments on the Korean Peninsula including the missile launch and the proclaimed nuclear test and urge North Korea to comply with UN Security Council Resolution 1718, especially to abandon all nuclear weapons and existing nuclear programs." said the statement.

According to the statement, the UK and Japan will continue working together to achieve early reform of the United Nations Security Council, whilst Britain will continue to back Japan's bid for Permanent Membership of the UN Security Council.

At the joint news conference, Blair said, "the membership of the UN Security Council of Japan is an important change and reform. I believe the moment is right for this to happen."

During the meeting, the two leaders announced further close cooperation on Iraq, Afghanistan, anti-terrorism, and climate change.

Abe arrived in London on Tuesday kicking off his first visit to Europe since taking office in September last year. During his five-day trip, Abe will also meet with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin, Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt in Brussels, and French President Jacques Chirac in Paris, cementing ties across Europe.

According to Kyodo News, Abe is also scheduled to meet the heads of the European Union and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and will deliver a speech at the North Atlantic Council, NATO's top decision-making body.

In the speech, Abe will express Japan's desire to expand its role in areas such as peace-keeping, post-conflict reconstruction assistance and disaster relief.

"Of course, while staying within the framework of the constitution, Japan must not be cowardly as it has been in the past. We are prepared to make an active contribution," Abe said in an interview on last Friday at his official residence.

Close US ally Japan has already stretched the limits of its post-World War II constitution, banning the maintenance of a military but this has been interpreted as allowing forces for self-defence.

Abe's predecessor, Junichiro Koizumi, sent non-combat troops to Iraq and late last year Japan's parliament enacted legislation allowing overseas missions to be a key role of Japan's military.

Abe will also seek European support for the tough line Washington and Tokyo are adopting with Pyongyang after its missile and nuclear tests last year. He will also seek backing for efforts to resolve a dispute over Japanese abducted decades ago by Pyongyang to help train North Korean spies in Japanese language and culture.

"I would like to show them Japan's will to actively contribute to the world," Abe told reporters before departing.

(Xinhua News Agency, China Daily via agencies January 10, 2007)