Tokyo, Oct. 26 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese and Finnish governments on Monday signed a bilateral pact on the transfer of defense equipment and technology. Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and Finnish Defense Minister Antti Hakkanen signed the deal at a ceremony at the Foreign Ministry building in Tokyo. At a summit in June last year, Japan and Finland agreed to accelerate negotiations to conclude the agreement. The pact is aimed at establishing a legal framework for transferring defense equipment and technology between the two countries, as well as appropriately controlling transfers to third countries and use for purposes other than those intended. In a meeting with Hakkanen, Motegi stressed that security in the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific regions is inseparable. Hakkanen expressed eagerness to cooperate further with Japan in the defense industry and technology sectors. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]
