KEY POINTS:
Japan and Australia will begin two days of talks on a possible free trade agreement on April 23 in Canberra, Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso said.
"This is one link to strengthening the strategic relationship between Japan and Australia," Aso said in Tokyo yesterday. "What will be discussed is sensitive, but we must strive for results that will be of the greatest benefit for Japan."
His comments came ahead of Australian Prime Minister John Howard's Tokyo visit next week to discuss trade and security issues with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
