Bush and Abe held talks ahead of the start of the Group of Eight summit of the leaders of the world's industrial powers. Climate change dominates the agenda but the United States has refused to agree German demands for fixed long term targets to cut emissions that cause global warming.

"As for the climate change issue ... we agreed that Japan and the United States will cooperate in forming a practical framework," Abe told reporters after the meeting.

Bush said Washington and Tokyo would jointly take the lead in developing new technologies to reduce greenhouse gasses, while aiming at a "flexible" framework.

"The two leaders agreed to cooperate in seeking a forward-looking achievement during the G8 summit ... on climate change," a Japanese government official said.