Visiting Finnish Foreign Minister Keijo Korhonen and his Japanese counterpart Iichiro Hatoyama agreed on Wednesday (23 February) that their two countries should promote cooperation at the United Nations for the maintenance of world peace and security.

The agreement came when the two Foreign Ministers held talks, lasting for 50 minutes, in Tokyo.

Korhonen, the first Finnish cabinet minister to visit Japan, arrived in Tokyo on Tuesday (22 February) for a four-day stay at the invitation of the Japanese Foreign Ministry.

During the talks, Korhonen said that the maintenance of world peace and security was vital for Finaldn, which is located next to the Soviet Union.

On bilateral issues, Korhonen proposed that Japan import more Finnish products, mainly its sophisticated ice-breakers, to correct the current trade imbalance between the two countries.

Bilateral trade last year amounted to some 130 million U.S. Dollars in favour of Japan with Japanese exports to Finland totalling 174 million U.S. Dollars and its imports from that country 44 million U.S. Dollars.

Korhonen also proposed that the two countries conclude a bilateral aviation agreement to open air services between Tokyo and Helsinki. He explained this would also help correct the trade imbalance.

He further suggested during the talks that Finland and Japan conclude a cultural agreement. He invited Mr. Hatoyama to visit Finland at a future date.

Korhonen is scheduled to meet with Emperor Hirohito and Empress Nagako on Thursday (24 February) before returning home.