Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio and French President Emmanuel Macron met in Paris on May 2.

During their working lunch summit, the two leaders agreed to begin formal negotiations toward a bilateral accord to facilitate cooperation between their defense forces.

Officials said the anticipated Japan-France Reciprocal Access Agreement is aimed at facilitating cooperative activities between the Japanese Self-Defense Forces and the French military.

Kishida and Macron also agreed to reinforce security cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, apparently with China in mind.

The prime minister gave the president Japan's traditional Edo Kiriko carved glasses featuring "Dragon Ball" characters.

When Dragon Ball creator Toriyama Akira died in March, Macron had mourned his death on social media.