Japan, Luxembourg to push forward Japan-EU FTA talks+

TOKYO, April 19 Kyodo -
Japan and Luxembourg agreed Tuesday to push forward the launch of negotiations on sealing a free trade agreement between the Asian country and the 27-nation European Union, with an eye on reaching an accord during the next round of Japan-EU summit slated for late May in Brussels, Japanese officials said.
Japanese Foreign Minister Takeaki Matsumoto asked visiting Luxembourg Vice Prime Minister Jean Asselborn to endorse the start of the Japan-EU FTA talks at the next summit, the officials said.
Asselborn, who doubles as foreign minister, said the next leaders' meeting will be a good opportunity to advance the FTA between Japan and the regional bloc, as a sense of solidarity was generated between the two after a magnitude 9.0 quake and tsunami ravaged Japan on March 11, they said.
The Luxembourg minister offered condolences to the victims of the twin disasters and said both the government and private sector of the European country intend to support Japan.
Matsumoto pledged to ensure transparency in delivering information on the ongoing crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, which was caused by the quake and tsunami, while Asselborn sought cooperation between Japan and the European Union on boosting the safety of nuclear power generation, the officials said.