TOKYO (ANA) -- Bilateral relations, the Balkans, investments and trade were at the centre of talks held here on Friday between Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis and Japanese Premier Junichiro Koizumi.

    Karamanlis, who is in Japan on a four-day official visit, said he and Koizumi had discussed prospects for greater cooperation by the two countries in international fora. He also noted that the two countries were currently both non-permanent members of the UN Security Council, stressing that this offered "a first-class opportunity to make cooperation closer in the future".

    The Greek premier pointed to Japan's "extremely positive presence in the western Balkans," saying that the political and economic interests of the two countries provided margins for greater cooperation.

    He also stressed that bilateral economic cooperation was currently below its potential for both countries, particularly for Greek agricultural products, shipping and tourism.

   

    (Caption: Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis, left, along with Japanese Premier Koizumi speak at a joint press conference in Tokyo on Friday. ANA photo/ G. Antoniou)