The European Union wants to work more closely with Japan on important technologies like artificial intelligence, according to the industry leader of the coalition, as it seeks to lessen its reliance on China in some areas.

Artificial intelligence will be “very high” on EU Commissioner Thierry Breton’s agenda when he meets with the Japanese government on Monday, according to a video he shared on Twitter on Sunday.

“I will engage with [the] Japanese government … on how we can organize our digital space, including AI based on our shared value,” Breton said.

A council for the EU-Japan Digital Partnership will be established, according to Breton, to study topics including quantum and high speed computing. In a related meeting last week, the EU and South Korea decided to work together on technology including artificial intelligence and cybersecurity.

In contrast to the U.S., which has pushed to divorce its economy from Beijing, the EU is looking to “de-risk” from China through partnerships with important Asian nations with robust technological industries.

That EU goal includes strengthening alliances with allies in the technology sector.

Breton said to Reuters on Monday that Japan and the bloc would work together in the semiconductor industry.

In the semiconductor supply chain, Japan is a crucial nation, and Tokyo has been working to develop its home market. A Japanese government-backed fund made a purchase offer last week for the domestic chipmaker JSR of about 903.9 billion yen ($6.3 billion).

Additionally, the EU has been working to develop the bloc’s own chip industry.

Semiconductors are essential parts used in everything from automobiles to smartphones and may find use in the military. Globally, nations have been reevaluating their supply chains, and some, like the United States, have sought to reintroduce domestic semiconductor manufacture.

In order to develop artificial intelligence models, semiconductors are also essential. Countries are attempting to position themselves to benefit from the two important technological areas for the future that are chips and AI.

At the same time, the U.S. in particular has worked to isolate China from essential technologies like semiconductors by enforcing export controls, and Washington has tried to persuade its friends in Europe to follow.

The Netherlands, which is home to ASML, one of the most important chip companies in the world, this week placed new export limits on cutting-edge semiconductor machinery.

(Adapted from CNBC.com)

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