TOKYO (Kyodo) -- The foreign ministers of Japan and Saudi Arabia agreed Monday to establish a leaders-level bilateral dialogue framework to deepen their cooperation in the economy, energy, security and other fields.

After their talks in Tokyo, Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya and his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud signed a memorandum to set up a "Strategic Partnership Council" aimed at boosting bilateral ties.

The establishment of the council was confirmed at an online summit in May between then Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who postponed his visit to Japan that month due to the health condition of his father King Salman.

At the outset of the meeting, Iwaya said Japan will closely collaborate with Saudi Arabia "for peace and stability in the Middle East and the international community." The top Saudi diplomat, in response, said the two countries should work on building a better future.

The foreign ministerial talks, dubbed "strategic dialogue," were last held in September 2023.