1.   France, while stepping up defense cooperation with its European partners, notably Britain and Germany, had also been edging back toward resuming a military role in NATO.

2.   Greece and Latvia signed a series of agreements Wednesday, pledging closer economic and defense cooperation.

3.   Japan sought Sunday to ease worries in China and braced for criticism at home over proposals for strengthened defense cooperation with the United States.

4.   Sharif is also to meet Chinese President Jiang Zemin and sign several agreements, including on defense cooperation.