Submitted by admin on Tue, 2007-03-13 08:00. ::
"The purpose of this is to express a common desire of Japan and Australia to work ever closer together to contribute to security in the region," Howard told reporters after meeting Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma. "It is obviously an important step forward.
"You never forget the past. You move on from the past, and you don't allow the past to contaminate what you do in the present or in the future," he said.
Some Australians still have bitter feelings about Japan because of World War Two, and Howard has said he would bring up Abe's recent comments denying the Japanese government directly forced women to become wartime sex slaves for Japanese soldiers.
Japan has in recent years pushed the limits of its U.S.-drafted pacifist constitution, and Abe wants to rewrite the document to clarify the legal status of its military and facilitate a bigger global security role.
The four-part defense agreement sets priorities for security cooperation in such areas as counter-terrorism, maritime security, border protection and disaster relief.
The agreement comes after North Korea shook the region with nuclear and missile tests last year and China shot down a satellite in January, sparking increased concern over Beijing's rising military might.
Echoing earlier remarks by Howard, Abe said the deal was not aimed at reining in China and that it would help stabilize the entire Asia-Pacific region.
"For our two countries to cooperate promotes the development of the region, as well as contributing to peace and security in the world at large," Abe told Australian Broadcasting Corp. radio, speaking through an interpreter.
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