Courtesy Call on Foreign Minister Nakasone by The Hon. Mr. Colin Barnett, Premier of the State of Western Australia

February 18, 2009
Japanese

(photo) (photo)

　On February 18, Mr. Hirofumi Nakasone, Minister for Foreign Affairs, had a meeting with The Hon. Mr. Colin Barnett, Premier of the State of Western Australia, who is currently visiting Japan. Mr. Yasutoshi Nishimura, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs and Secretary-General of the Western Australia-Kansai Parliamentary Friendship League, also attended the meeting. It began at 4:00 p.m. and lasted about 35 minutes.

1. Economic Relations

(1) At the outset of the meeting, Mr. Nakasone welcomed Mr. Barnett’s visit to Japan, honored that Japan became the destination of the Premier’s first overseas trip since he assumed office. Mr. Nakasone expressed his expectation that Japan would strengthen the relationship with Western Australia, an important supplier of resources, energy and food for Japan, and asked for further improvement of the investment environment as seen in the lifting of the ban on uranium development.

(2) In response, Mr. Barnett said that he attached importance to the relationship with Japan as the economy of Western Australia had been developed thanks to the large-scale investment by Japanese companies since the 1960s. He also said that he would make efforts to maintain a stable supply of natural resources and food.

2. People-to-People Exchange

(1) Referring to the active Japanese-language education in Western Australia, Mr. Nakasone hoped that it would not end up only as language learning. He said he wished to make efforts to increase occasions for Japanese language learners to visit Japan and interact with Japanese people. He shared recognition with Mr. Barnett of the importance of youth exchange.

(2) Mr. Nakasone said that Japan and Western Australia had an active exchange of parliamentarians. In response, Mr. Barnett wished young Japanese parliamentarians would visit the State to see its facilities related to natural resources.

3. Whaling Issue

(1) Referring to the whaling issue, Mr. Nakasone said that the repeated harassment by the Sea Shepherd was a greatly regrettable and unacceptable act as it endangered those concerned. Mr. Nakasone also said that Japan would seek for the cooperation of Western Australia and the international community to prevent the recurrence of the harassment.

(2) In response, while referring to the necessity for a diplomatic solution of the difference in positions, Mr. Barnett said he did not support dangerous harassment, either.

(END)

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