TOKYO (AFP) — Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Wednesday praised what he called Japan's "firm" stance on Iran as the Jewish state agreed to step up ties with the world's second largest economy.
Olmert, the first Israeli premier to visit Tokyo in 11 years, signed a deal pledging to work to boost commerce between the two countries, including through cooperation in science and technology.
The Asian economic giant, which has virtually no natural energy resources, has long maintained close commercial and political ties with Arab nations and Iran, which counts on Japan as the top customer for its oil.
But Japan, the only nation to have suffered atomic attack, has taken an increasingly critical stance on Iran's nuclear drive. In 2006, Japan pulled out of a project to develop the Islamic republic's largest online oilfield.
"I thanked the prime minister for his support for the negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians," Olmert said after talks with his counterpart Yasuo Fukuda.
"I also express my appreciation for Japan's firm stance against Iran's pursuit of nuclear weapons and its contribution to the global campaign against nuclear proliferation," he told a joint press appearance.
Japan has been seeking a greater role in the Middle East in line with its aspirations for more global influence.
Japan is funding a project to build an agro-industrial park in the West Bank in a bid to create jobs in the ailing Palestinian economy.
"Japan will give the utmost support to achieve peace in the Middle East," Fukuda told reporters.
A joint statement said the two countries "reaffirmed that the solution of the Arab-Israel conflict will contribute to achieving stability and prosperity in the Middle East."
Olmert was expected to have spoken with Fukuda about the joint dangers of Iran and North Korea, the arch-enemies of Israel and Japan, respectively.
A Japanese newspaper had said Tuesday that Olmert would share intelligence photos purporting to show military cooperation between the Islamic republic and communist state.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is a vociferous critic of Israel and has triggered outrage in the Jewish state by questioning the extent of the Holocaust.
Israel has supported Western-led efforts to slap further sanctions on Iran for its refusal to suspend uranium enrichment, a potential weapons-making process.
Olmert is primarily in the Asian nation to boost tepid trade with Japan, which has invested little in recent years in Israel even though both countries have vibrant technology industries.
In a joint statement, Olmert and Fukuda called for "further development of economic relations" and to explore further cooperation in science and technology.
The two leaders also said they supported the idea of setting up direct flights between Japan and Israel.
Olmert earlier met with Emperor Akihito at a ceremonial reception in the sprawling imperial palace in central Tokyo.
Akihito told Olmert that "the prime minister's visit to Japan will enhance the mutual understanding between Japan and Israel," an official at the Imperial Household Agency said.
Akihito, who is known for his interest in science, also asked a question about the development of battery cars, he said.
The emperor, whose father Hirohito was revered as a demigod during World War II, remains widely respected in Japan but is constitutionally forbidden from having any political role.
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