Tokyo | Former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe has called for greater defence co-operation with Australia and says Tokyo should work with the AUKUS security partnership in areas such as cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and quantum technology.

Mr Abe, who still wields significant influence in Japan’s ruling coalition, made the comments as new Prime Minister Fumio Kishida unveiled a multi-trillion yen stimulus package which included ¥770 billion ($9.25 billion) in defence spending.