French President Jacques Chirac expressed hope on Friday that Japan will join the international efforts to help Lebanon reconstruct.

Chirac made the remarks as Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe arrived here on Friday for a visit to France, the final leg of his European tour, which has already taken him to Britain, Germany and the headquarters of the European Union and NATO in Belgium.

During their talks, Chirac said that it was very important that Japan attends an international conference on Lebanon's reconstruction.

The conference, slated for Jan. 25 in Paris, is aimed at shoring up international support for Lebanon.

Chirac and Abe also exchanged views on bilateral ties. Terming Japan as France's friend and strategic partner, Chirac said that the two countries enjoy friendly relations.

The two leaders also discussed situations in East Asia and the Middle East, environment, Africa, development aid, the UN Security Council expansion and Sino-Japanese ties.

During the five-day visit to Europe, Abe's first after he took office in September 2006, the Japanese prime minister held talks with European leaders, including British Prime Minister Tony Blair, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer.

Source: Xinhua