ASEAN, Japan agree to boost cooperation on nuke plant safety

Jakarta, Apr 10 (ANI): The Japanese Foreign ministers and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) conducted a meeting in Indonesia, aiming to boost the safety of nuclear power plants in the wake of devastating earthquake and tsunami that has triggered the nuclear crisis in Japan.

The two sides "support Japan's resolve to take a leadership role in the international undertaking to improve the safety of nuclear power plants, and its willingness to share experiences learned from the accident with ASEAN member states," said the Japanese ministers.

It was the first time ASEAN has convened a foreign ministerial meeting in response to a disaster that occurred outside the territory of the 10-member grouping, Japanese officials said.

ASEAN acknowledged Japan's assurance to provide information to the international community "with maximum transparency" on the response to the accident involving the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, the Kyodo reports.

The meeting was conducted as ASEAN member states such as Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam are considering building nuclear power plants to meet the rising demand for electricity.

Indonesia, which was hit by the 2004 Sumatra quake and tsunami, proposed "special meeting" for Japan as ASEAN appreciates Tokyo's "unwavering support" for member states in times of need. (ANI)