TOKYO, January 6 – RIA Novosti. According to the Yomiuri newspaper, Tokyo and London are preparing to sign a Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) in connection with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s visit to the UK.

During Kishida’s visit to the UK on January 10-11, the agreements reached the final stage so that the leaders could sign a document facilitating military contacts between the two countries. If this happens, the UK will be the second country after Australia with which Japan has made such a deal.

The agreement will facilitate joint exercises as it will relieve participants of the need to obtain visas for a temporary stay in a partner country and facilitate the import of ammunition.

It was previously reported that the agreement would also allow countries to strengthen cooperation with the United States in the Indo-Pacific region. It will facilitate joint exercises and cooperation between countries in the field of logistics and lay the legal groundwork for simplifying bureaucratic procedures when sending troops from one country to another. The newspaper also writes that in December, the two countries are expected to announce details of a partnership to jointly develop new fighters.

Fumio Kishida is planning to visit France, Italy, England, Canada and the USA during his European tour covering the G7 member countries on January 9-13.