Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio and European Council President Charles Michel have agreed to cooperate on making next year's Group of Seven summit in Hiroshima a success.

During a meeting on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Germany, Kishida thanked Michel for visiting the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum during his stay in Japan last month.

The president said the experience made a strong impression on him.

Both sides confirmed their cooperation in staging the G7 summit next year in Hiroshima.

The leaders also confirmed that security in Europe and security in the Indo-Pacific region are inseparable, and pledged to protect an international order based on the rule of law.

They plan for both sides to closely cooperate on responses to the Ukrainian crisis and realizing a free and open Indo-Pacific.

The leaders exchanged opinions on the situation in the Indo-Pacific region. The two, with China in mind, agreed that any unilateral attempt to change the status quo by force is unacceptable.

They also confirmed that the two sides will work closely together on responses to North Korea's nuclear and missile development and on the issue of its abduction of foreign nationals.