Japan's Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru and Italian President Sergio Mattarella have agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation in a wide range of fields, including security and economic matters.



Ishiba talked with Mattarella at the prime minister's office in Tokyo for about 40 minutes on Wednesday evening.



At the beginning of the meeting, Ishiba told the president that Japan and Italy are strategic partners which share values and principles.



The prime minister also noted that bilateral cooperation, including joint development of a next-generation fighter aircraft, has made great progress, and that he hopes to further promote this.



Mattarella responded that the global situation is severe, but Italy and Japan have always maintained a cooperative relationship.



The two leaders agreed to promote specific cooperation in cultural and people-to-people exchanges as well as in diplomacy, security and economic fields.



They also concurred on the need for close coordination toward the 160th anniversary next year of the establishment of the bilateral diplomatic relations.



Ishiba said after the meeting that the close cooperation between Japan and Italy is gaining greater importance than ever before as "the security of Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific is becoming inseparable."



He said the two countries will work together for the world's peace and stability as members of the Group of Seven nations.