Japan-Australia Relations

On Thursday, September 27, commencing at 3:25 p.m. (local time; Friday, September 28, 4:25 a.m. Japan time) for approximately 25 minutes, Mr. Taro Kono, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, during his visit to New York to attend the United Nations (UN) General Assembly session, held a meeting with Senator The Hon Marise Payne, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Commonwealth of Australia. The overview of the meeting is as follows.

1. At the beginning, Minister Kono once again congratulated Minister Payne on her appointment as Foreign Minister. Minister Kono stated that Japan and Australia are "Special Strategic Partners" that share fundamental values and strategic interests and that he looked forward to working closely with Minister Payne in taking the lead to achieve a free and open Indo-Pacific region. 
2. The ministers exchanged views regarding North Korea's overall situation and confirmed that it is important for the international community to continue to ensure the full implementation of relevant United Nations Security Council (UNSC)   Resolutions  towards the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. With regard to measures to tackle North Korea's ship-to-ship transfers, Minister Kono thanked Australia for its deploying patrol aircraft, and the ministers confirmed that the two countries will cooperate on the response.
3. The ministers also exchanged views regarding issues such as the bilateral relationship, relationship with the Pacific island countries, the South China Sea, and the bilateral coordination on the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP11 Agreement).