TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and NATO chief Mark Rutte agreed Wednesday to step up defense industry cooperation amid security challenges posed by Russia's war on Ukraine and China's growing assertiveness.

Envisaged areas of cooperation include the development of cutting-edge dual-use technologies with civilian and military applications, which will likely cover artificial intelligence, drones and quantum technology.

Japan and NATO have been deepening their partnership, especially since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, viewing the security of the Indo-Pacific and that of Europe as inseparable.

"A stronger NATO will benefit Japan greatly," Ishiba said at a joint press appearance with Rutte at the prime minister's office in Tokyo, saying that defense industry cooperation has "huge potential."

"We welcome NATO's increasing engagement in the Indo-Pacific region," Ishiba said.

Standing next to Ishiba, Rutte underscored the need for NATO-Japan cooperation at a "pivotal" time for security and stability in the Euro-Atlantic and the Indo-Pacific, as Russia's war on Ukraine continues and China is pursuing its military build-up and control over key technologies and supply chains.

China "continues to carry out destabilizing activities in the Indo-Pacific," said Rutte on his first visit to Japan as NATO secretary general.

Japan has expressed its interest in joining a NATO command coordinating the provision of military equipment and training to war-torn Ukraine. The command, dubbed NSATU, is located at a U.S. base in Wiesbaden, Germany.

"I appreciate your willingness to participate in the NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine, which helps Ukraine fight today but also for Ukraine to build up its armed forces for tomorrow," Rutte said.

The Japanese and NATO chiefs issued a joint statement strongly condemning military cooperation between Russia and North Korea in the war in Ukraine and voicing concern over China's support for Russia's defense industry.

Ishiba and Rutte also emphasized the importance of maintaining a "free and open" Indo-Pacific based on the rule of law, saying that they oppose any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion in the East and South China seas, in an apparent reference to China.

NATO has expanded its outreach in recent years to Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand -- partners in the Indo-Pacific region, where Chinese assertiveness has been on the rise.

In an interview with Kyodo News earlier in the day, Rutte raised the alarm about China's military expansion and defense production that is taking place "at a staggering rate."

Rutte said China has more navy ships sailing than the United States, and it is expected to possess a thousand nuclear warheads by 2030.

In the ongoing war in Ukraine, China is a "key enabler" of Russia's war effort because it is siding with Moscow. "Let's not be naive about China," he added, pressing the case for more cooperation between NATO and Japan.