Radiation Heads Japan-EU Maritime Talks

Japan will hold its sixth round of policy dialogue on maritime affairs with the European Union in Tokyo on Thursday with the ongoing nuclear crisis in Japan topping the agenda, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism announced Tuesday.

It will be the first bilateral policy dialogue on maritime affairs since the earthquake and tsunami hit the northeastern part of Japan and devastated the Fukushima No.1 nuclear power plant.

"The nuclear issue was not on the agenda initially, but it emerged as the top agenda item suddenly in the wake of the ongoing nuclear crisis as it is a matter of grave concern for both sides," one official at the ministry's maritime affairs bureau told the Journal of Commerce.

Working-level maritime officials from the Japanese ministry and the European Commission have held the policy dialogue almost annually since 2005.

The upcoming meeting will be held behind closed doors although its results will be released later, the ministry said.

In addition to the ongoing nuclear crisis, officials said they will discuss the tonnage tax system and other policy measures aimed at securing domestic registered vessels and sailors; anti-piracy measures to ensure safe navigation near Somalia and in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore; and environment protection measures, including greenhouse gas emission reductions and ship recycling.

-- Contact Hisane Masaki at yiu45535@nifty.com.