Germany and Japan want to work together for stability in Central Asia, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said Tuesday in Berlin.

Neither country was pursuing strategic ambitions in the region, Steinmeier said following talks between a European Union delegation and Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso.

Steinmeier, whose country holds the rotating presidency of the EU, said that efforts to achieve greater stability in Central Asia were not directed against Russia.

Aso confirmed this and said that Japan did not hold anything against the government of President Vladimir Putin, which Tuesday test-launched two new missile systems.