Foreign Minister Yohei Kono and European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid Poul Nielson agreed Tuesday to cooperate in providing development assistance and humanitarian aid to countries in need, ministry officials said.

In a 40-minute meeting at the Foreign Ministry, Nielson said eliminating poverty is crucial. He emphasized the importance of Japan and the European Union cooperating in the effort, they said.

Kono said Japan needs EU information and knowhow on certain countries and regions. He suggested close coordination between the two sides in carrying out "effective assistance," the officials said.

The foreign minister asked for cooperation and support from the EU toward a Japan-funded international commission. It is to be established soon to study human security issues, with former U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Sadako Ogata set to jointly-chair the body.

Nielson said the EU will cooperate fully with the commission, adding that no one is better suited to chair it than Ogata.

Japan devised the commission to tackle global issues in the belief that national security is closely linked to "human security" issues such as poverty, human rights, disease, environmental degradation, terrorism and cross-border crimes.

Nielson, a former Danish minister of development cooperation, is on a six-day visit to Japan that began Saturday. He is to deliver a speech Thursday at an international conference on humanitarian crises in Tokyo.

During a speech at the Japan National Press Club the same day, he said that to better stimulate teamwork with Japan and other donors in assisting developing countries, the EU plans to concentrate on six development measures, including linking trade and development, enhancing regional integration and cooperation and providing macroeconomic support linked to strengthening the health and education sectors.