In Australia, the leaders of Australia and Japan today agreed to boost cooperation between their militaries, as Japan tries to shore up security ties throughout the Asia-Pacific region amid concern over China's growing military might.<br/><br/>Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his Australian counterpart Malcolm Turnbull said they had signed an upgraded defence agreement after talks in Sydney on trade and regional security issues.<br/><br/>The leaders said the pact would allow their militaries to provide each other with logistical support during exercises, and are working toward an agreement that would make it easier to participate in joint military exercises. <br/><br/>Abe said the countries would enhance their coordination on activity in the disputed South China Sea and the nuclear threat posed by North Korea.