TOKYO, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- During senior working-level discussions aimed at deepening the two countries' bilateral alliance, Japan and the United States agreed Thursday that Japanese forces should cooperate in the areas of disaster relief and humanitarian and reconstruction assistance, Japanese government officials said.
Officials added that the specifics of natural disaster response and relief aid would be worked out based on the two countries' experiences in these areas.
Additionally, Japan and the U.S. will through the discussions develop a singular understanding of the security landscape in the Asia-Pacific region, and discuss ways to enhance cooperation on specific areas of interest to the two nations, including those relating to information assurance, cyber-security and space.
Discussions will also address Japan's annual state expenses for U.S. military forces in Japan, although sources close to the matter said that comprehensive talks on the matter won't take place amid the unresolved issue of the relocating of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futemma Air Station -- the controversy of which has escalated of late due to increased local government opposition in Okinawa and differing opinions within the ruling coalitions tripartite factions.
Currently and under agreement with Washington, Tokyo covers part of the expenses for U.S. troops staying in Japan, including utility costs, and salaries of Japanese employees working at U.S. bases in Japan -- the expenses are often referred to as the " sympathy" budget.
The two countries have agreed to hold the so-called "two-plus- two" meeting of the four foreign and defense ministers in the first half of this year, as an integral part of deepening the alliance and ahead of an expected visit to Japan by U.S. President Barack Obama as part of the annual Pacific Rim summit.
The bilateral talks to deepen the Japan-U.S. alliance started earlier this year, which marks the 50th anniversary of the current bilateral security treaty.
