In counterweight to China, EU, Japan sign deal to link Asia

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe shake hands during the conference Communication Connecting Europe and Asia, in Brussels, Belgium September 27, 2019. REUTERS/Francois Lenoir

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union and Japan signed an infrastructure deal on Friday to coordinate transport, energy and digital projects linking Europe and Asia, seeking an alternative to Chinese largesse that has raised suspicion in Brussels and Tokyo.

The accord, signed by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, formalises Japan's involvement in a new EU-Asia "connectivity" plan that is set to be backed by a 60 billion euro (£53.3 billion) EU guarantee fund, development banks and private investors.