Japan to co-chair Australian proposed international commission
Updated
A former Japanese foreign minister has agreed to co-chair the Australian proposed international commission on nuclear non proliferation and disarmament.
During his visit to Japan last month Australia's Prime Minister Kevin Rudd proposed the commission to reinvigorate the global effort against the proliferation of nuclear weapons.
In a bi-lateral meeting on the sidelines of the G8 summit the Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda told Mr Rudd the former foreign minister Yoriko Kawaguchi has agreed to co-chair the commission with former Australian foreign minister Gareth Evans.
Mr Rudd says both countries share the goals of disarmament and non-proliferation.
The prime minister also won support for the commission from Germany's leader Angela Merkel during their discussions on the sidelines of the G8 meeting in Japan.
