The European Union and Japan decided to work together for an international deal aimed at curbing global warming and called upon the United States, China, and Russia to "participate in a responsible manner" to fight climate change.
"We shall cooperate with the EU towards building an agreement on an ambitious, effective and comprehensive post-Kyoto framework,' Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso told reporters after meeting with EU leaders in Prague on Monday.
"Japan and the EU are aiming at building a low-carbon society," he added.
Ahead of a UN conference in Copenhagen at the year-end, the EU has pledged to cut its emissions by 20 per cent from 1990 levels by 2020.
Japan has not set its mid-term target yet, but it has pledged to reduce carbon emissions by up to 80 percent by 2050.
The two entities said in a joint statement that they recognized the importance of a UN agency's report recommending a 25-40 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions for industrialized countries by 2020.
For comments and feedback: editorial@rttnews.com