Japan and Britain have agreed to enhance ties for economic security, in a move seen as countering China's increasing assertiveness.
Japan's Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Nishimura Yasutoshi met with his UK counterpart, Kemi Badenoch, in London on Wednesday.
They agreed to set up a bilateral dialogue of economy ministers to address economic coercion. That is the practice of restricting trade with the aim of putting pressure on other countries.
In July, NATO accused China of ''coercive policies'' and said Beijing ''strives to subvert'' the international order.
Nishimura said, "Japan and the United Kingdom share basic values and work together in the fields of both security and the economy to build a truly just international economic order. The United Kingdom is an important partner for Japan.''
Nishimura and Badenoch also discussed enhancing supply chain resilience. They agreed to study cooperation in procuring rare earth minerals that are essential for electric vehicle batteries.
The ministers also agreed that research institutes from the two nations will cooperate in commercializing a next-generation nuclear reactor called a high temperature gas-cooled reactor.