TOKYO, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- The visiting Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe pledged Thursday to strengthen security and economic cooperation between their countries during an annual summit meeting.

According to a joint statement released after the meeting, the two sides agreed to further strengthen their "special strategic partnership."

The two sides would pursue "deeper and broader defense cooperation," including exercises, operations, capacity building, military force visits among others, while pushing forward negotiations on a visiting forces agreement.

Abe and Turnbull exchanged views on Korean Peninsula issue, cooperation and development between two countries, according to the statement.

Earlier in the day, Turnbull toured an exercise area of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Forces east of Tokyo along with Abe and inspected drills by the Special Operations Group tasked with counterterrorism operations.

Turnbull also attended a special meeting of Japan's National Security Council.