Iraq, Japan sign bilateral agreements

BAGHDAD, Jan. 30 (UPI) -- The Japanese and Iraqi governments signed bilateral agreements in Baghdad regarding cooperation in the economic and cultural sectors.

Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Barham Saleh and Japanese special envoy to Iraq Shinzo Abe signed the agreement at a ceremony Wednesday attended by top officials from both sides, the Iraqi Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

"The declaration opens broad prospects of cooperation between the two countries in the areas of reconstruction infrastructure, particularly in the areas of electric power and the development of oil and gas fields, as well as the activation of cooperation (in) cultural, commercial, educational areas," the statement said.

Japanese officials pledged continued support for the Iraqi reconstruction effort in December as Tokyo prepared to withdraw its aviation mission there.

The Japanese Air Self-Defense Force worked in support of the U.S.-led coalition mission in Iraq through various transport operations.

Tokyo said its forces had conducted 810 flights carrying 46,000 passengers and roughly 670 tons of materials in support of the Iraq mission.