Japan, Sri Lanka to Cooperate Further on Maritime Affairs

Colombo, Sept. 7 (Jiji Press)--Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa agreed at a meeting Sunday that their countries will strengthen cooperation on maritime affairs such as by creating a policy dialogue forum. Abe became the first Japanese prime minister in 24 years to visit Sri Lanka. Nobusuke Kishi, Abe's grandfather, paid the first visit by a Japanese prime minister to the South Asian country. At a joint news conference after the meeting in the Sri Lankan capital of Colombo, Abe said that Sri Lanka is a seafaring country that shares basic values with Japan in the same Asian region. Abe said that he and Rajapaksa agreed to develop bilateral relations based on a historical friendly relationship into a new partnership between seafaring countries. Sri Lanka is located on the sea lane connecting Japan and the Middle East. At the meeting, the two leaders agreed to strengthen cooperation between their coast guards on search and rescue and antidisaster operations on the sea as well as maritime environmental protection. They confirmed that Japan will give Sri Lanka patrol boats. Since Sri Lanka decided to introduce Japan's digital terrestrial broadcast method, Abe pledged 13.7 billion yen in soft loans for building that infrastructure. Abe and Rajapaksa also discussed the promotion of national reconciliation in Sri Lanka, where a civil war lasted long, and cooperation in U.N. Security Council reform. They announced a joint statement wrapping up their talks. The Japanese and Sri Lankan governments also exchanged memorandums of understanding to promote economic policy dialogue and cooperate in farm and science and technology sectors. Sri Lanka became the 49th country Abe has visited since he took office in late December 2012. The number surpassed 48 countries visited by former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and marked a record. END