Japan hopes to work together with Malaysia in the fight against terrorism and to safeguard the strategic Malacca Strait, a senior Japanese official said.

"Malaysia is our important partner because you are in command of the Malacca Strait.

"It is an important oil route and a lifeline to the Japanese economy," the official said over the weekend in conjunction with the two-day official visit by Japanese Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko.

"We perhaps can join hands together to fight terrorism," he told reporters.

Japan has stepped up aid to fight piracy in Southeast Asia and has previously said it would help guard the Strait as nearly all of the oil powering its economy comes through the waterway.

About one-third of world trade passes through the Malacca Strait each year.

The ease with which pirates board ships in the Strait has raised concerns in Japan and the West that extremists could hijack a tanker to use as a floating bomb or to block the vital channel and disrupt world trade.

Emperor ends Malaysian trip

Meanwhile Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko left Malaysia yesterday for Thailand after meeting Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and local Japanese residents.

"Prime Minister Abdullah is a great friend of Japan," the official said.

Some onlookers with Japanese flags waved as the emperor's motorcade left the hotel for the Kuala Lumpur International Airport under heavy security.

The royal couple moved on to Bangkok to participate in events marking the 60th anniversary of Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej's reign on Monday and Tuesday.

Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko arrived in Malaysia on Saturday from Singapore on the second leg of a three-nation tour of Southeast Asia.

The official also said Japan and Malaysia could cooperate in economic issues that go beyond "our regional frontier."

"Malaysia can share its economic might with Japan. Malaysia can be a springboard to link Japan to India. We should expand our horizon and look beyond," he said.

Malaysia and Japan enjoy close ties. The two nations signed a free-trade pact in 2005 and Japan is Malaysia's third-largest trading partner and one of the biggest investors here.