March 13 (in-en.com) -- Australian Prime Minister John Howard and Japanese Trade Minister Akira Amari plan to add energy security cooperation to the two nations' free-trade negotiations next month.

The governments propose including a clause calling for stronger ties in energy and natural resource supply security in a draft trade agreement, Minemasa Suehiro, a policy director at the trade ministry, told reporters in Tokyo today.

Japan wants closer ties with Australia as the world's second-largest economy seeks secure supplies of natural resources including crude oil, natural gas, coal and uranium. Trade talks will have to overcome sticking points on agricultural products. Australia wants lower tariffs on exports of rice, beef and dairy products. Japan has resisted opening its rice market, imposing a 500 percent levy protect its farmers.

Howard said during Tokyo talks with Amari today that free- trade negotiations with Japan would be ``tough'' and last a long time, Suehiro said. Amari said talks with Australia would be Japan's most difficult trade negotiations because they cover sensitive agricultural products.

Amari said the two countries should strengthen energy relations, which may allow Japan to expand imports of liquefied natural gas from Australia, Suehiro told reporters. Australia in turn would be able to receive nuclear power generation technology from Japan.

The two governments are set to hold free-trade talks in Canberra on April 23 and 24.