Japanese Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Hiroshi Kajiyama, left, and Australian Trade, Tourism and Investment Minister Dan Tehan pose in Tokyo on July 15, 2021, before the start of Japan-Australia economic dialog. (Kyodo)

       TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Japan and Australia agreed Thursday to promote the Trans-Pacific Partnership and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership regional trade deals as a way of revitalizing the COVID-19 pandemic-hit regional economy.

       In a meeting in Tokyo, Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Hiroshi Kajiyama and Dan Tehan, Australia's minister for trade, tourism and investment, affirmed close cooperation in assisting Britain's accession process in the TPP, an 11-nation group formally known as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans Pacific Partnership.

       In a joint statement released after the talks, the ministers affirmed that the TPP and the 15-member RCEP "are critical to post COVID-19 economic recovery for the region."

       Tokyo and Canberra are members of the two deals.

       In the meeting, Kajiyama said, "It is timely to have an opportunity for strategic dialogue that spans both trade and energy issues."

       Angus Taylor, Australia's minister for energy and emissions reduction, also joined the meeting virtually.

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