The Japan-Australia Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA), which aims at closer cooperation between Japan's Self-Defense Forces (SDF) and the Australian Defense Force, took effect on Thursday, Japan's Foreign Ministry said.

The ministry said that the agreement will promote cooperation between the two strategic partners in security areas and will contribute to the international cooperation of both countries.

The pact will enable the SDF and the Australian forces to share food, fuel and other supplies during their missions, such as UN peacekeeping and overseas disaster relief operations.

The pact was signed in 2010 and is the second ACSA for Japan after the Japan-US ACSA entered into force in 1996.