Cerar and Abe confirmed the friendly relations between Slovenia and Japan and called for further strengthening them, especially in business and science, the Slovenian prime minister's office said in a press release.

Listing areas where there is still potential for cooperation, Cerar highlighted the role of the Slovenian port of Koper.

He also expressed a hope that the Japanese economy would continue with development-oriented investments in Slovenia.

The Slovenian prime minister also hoped for Japanese tourists to further visit Slovenia.

Abe was meanwhile quoted by Cerar's office as saying that given the latest trends in bilateral economic cooperation, he was optimistic about the future.

Cerar also pointed to a planned visit by a delegation of Japan business federation Keidanren to Slovenia in mid-October, which will be its first visit since 1997.

The delegation is expected to feature around 30 representatives of Mitsubishi Chemicals, Mitsubishi Electrics, Japan Airlines, ANA, Hitachi, Sumitomo Electrics, Sumitomo Corp. Europe, Nippon Express, Sojitz Europe, ITOCHU Hungary and Nomura International, among others.

On Tuesday, Cerar will meet representatives of the biggest companies associated in Keidanren to present Slovenia as an attractive investment destination.

In meeting Abe, Cerar also pointed to the role Slovenian scientists play in the high energy accelerator research organisation KEK in Tsukuba, one of the biggest three international particle physics centres. He will visit it on Tuesday.

He said that Slovenia had earmarked around EUR 1.5m for the construction of Belle II, a spectometer designed for particle physics tests which is due to be launched next year.

Belle II is a project of the Japanese government, worth around EUR 300m, where a team of 12 Slovenian scientists is among the project leaders.

Cerar was also happy that later this month Slovenian grid operator ELES and the Japanese New Energy and Industrial Technology Organisation (NEDO) would sign a partnership in energy.

Cerar and Abe also discussed international institutions and security topics. The pair called for respecting international law, including the law of the sea.

The prime ministers expressed opposition to all forms of aggression and called for peaceful settlement of disputes, according to the prime minister's office.

Cerar invited Abe to visit Slovenia next year, when the two countries celebrate the 25th anniversary of diplomatic relations. This would be the first visit by a Japanese prime minister.

Following their meeting, the pair attended the STS Forum, at which they were the main speakers at the panel Science and Technology for the Future of Humanity.

Cerar presented some of the main Slovenian scientific achievements and stressed the great need for cooperation between academics, scientists, politicians and business people in finding solutions to the benefit of humanity.

He will complete the Japan visit on Tuesday. Tomorrow, he is scheduled to meet in Tokyo Crown Prince Naruhito, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tadamori Oshima and the chairman of the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO).