The UK and Japan say they will work together to tackle climate change and energy security.
In a joint statement issued during a visit to the UK by Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe, the two countries' governments said that they "recognise the importance of investing in a diverse and clean energy mix in order to ensure a competitive economy, long term security of supply and avoid dangerous climate change". Nuclear energy is an important part of the solution, they said.
"I hugely value our partnership with Japan and am pleased to continue to work together to secure a global climate change deal in 2015 and support," said UK Energy Secretary Edward Davey.
Japan and the UK cited the findings of the recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) assessment report, which said that urgent and ambitious action on climate change is needed. They said that they "believe that nuclear energy provides a consistent and affordable source of energy, and has a key role to play in the future low carbon energy mix."
Both countries also confirmed that they would continue to work closely on the decommissioning of nuclear waste, with the UK providing technological and strategic assistance to support work at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.
The statement also recognised the value of investments by Japanese firms such as Hitachi and Toshiba in the UK's new nuclear build programme.
Sian Crampsie
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