Japan-Australia Relations

On November 15, commencing at 11:04 a.m. (10:04 a.m. Japan time) for approximately 20 minutes, Mr. Taro Kono, Minister for Foreign Affairs, who is visiting Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, to attend the APEC Ministerial Meeting, held a meeting with Senator The Hon Marise Payne, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Commonwealth of Australia, who is also staying in Port Moresby. The overview of the meeting is as follows.

1. Minister Kono expressed his gratitude for the kind welcome of the Australian side at the Japan-Australia Foreign and Defence Ministerial Consultations (Japan-Australia "2+2") held in Sydney last month, and stated that APEC this year was a good opportunity to strengthen relations with the Pacific island countries, and that he hoped Japan and Australia would cooperate with each other.
2. The ministers also held exchanges of views regarding bilateral relations, infrastructure cooperation and the regional situation.