JAPAN, TURKEY AGREE TO MORE DYNAMIC TIES IN TRADE, TOURISM, CLIMATE

TOKYO, June 6 Kyodo - Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda and visiting Turkish President Abdullah Gul agreed Friday to develop a ''firmer and more dynamic'' relationship, not only to strengthen bilateral ties in all spheres but also to step up cooperation in tackling international challenges such as climate change and nonproliferation. In a joint statement issued after talks in Tokyo, Gul noted Turkey is in search of ''a new partnership with the East'' while Fukuda underscored Tokyo's awareness of Turkey's ''important role'' for the stability and development of the region stretching from the Middle East to Central Asia. The two leaders expressed willingness to pursue more frequent ministerial consultations, including at the foreign ministerial level, and to continue support for expanding trade and direct investments. Noting that Gul is on the first official visit by a Turkish president to Japan, Fukuda told a joint press conference held after their talks in Tokyo that the visit has become ''a very good occasion to bring the two countries' ties to a further height.'' In particular, the two nations agreed to further promote tourism and decided to designate the year 2010 as the Japan-Turkey Tourism Exchange Year. The Turkish side also requested that Japan consider permitting more flights to Tokyo for Turkish Airlines, according to the statement. On the international front, Fukuda and Gul reaffirmed their commitment to cooperate for stability and prosperity in the Middle East, especially the Middle East peace process, the reconstruction of Iraq and Afghanistan, and the fight against terrorism. Japan also expressed its appreciation to Turkey's efforts to mediate negotiations between Israel and Syria, the statement said. Gul said in the joint press conference that Fukuda ''showed strong interest over peace in the Middle East'' and the two confirmed that their countries are ''making maximum efforts'' for the issue. The two leaders also shared the view that their nations will be ''actively engaged'' in the making of an effective post-2012 greenhouse gas emissions cut framework and agreed to ''make appropriate efforts and cooperate'' under such a framework to tackle global warming. They also decided to strengthen cooperation to enhance disarmament and nonproliferation regimes. On North Korea, the two sides reaffirmed cooperation in support of six-party talks to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula. Gul is making a five-day visit from Wednesday. In an audience with Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko on Thursday, Gul presented the emperor with an 80-centimeter-long model of an Ottoman warship that sank off Japan's Kii Peninsula in 1890. The vessel was considered the origin of Japan-Turkish friendship as its survivors were saved and cared for by Japanese in Wakayama Prefecture.