(VOVworld) – EU and Japan are trying to conclude negotiations on a EU- Japan Free Trade Agreement by 2015.

Jose Manuel Barroso, Schinzo Abe and Herman Van Rompuy

They have agreed to step up trade cooperation, increase Japan’s auto and television exports to the EU, and boost exports of the EU’s cheese and wine products to Japan by removing non-tariff barriers. The agreement was contained in a joint statement made at the 22^nd Japan – EU summit attended by European Council President Herman Van Rompuy, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Brussels on Thursday. Leaders of both sides also agreed on a collaboration of Japan's Self-Defense Forces and European military forces in antipiracy operations off Somalia and controlling exports of weapons and technologies for military use. Japan and the EU will accelerate negotiations toward greater cooperation in cyber security and aerospace.

Abe is visiting Belgium on the last leg of a week long trip to Europe, which also took him to Germany, Britain, Portugal, Spain and France.