Japan-Australia Relations
Japan-Australia Summit Meeting
November 16, 2018
Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office
Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office
Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office
On Friday, November 16, commencing at 3:40 p.m. (3:10 p.m. Japan time) for approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes, Mr. Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan, who is visiting the Commonwealth of Australia, held a meeting with the Hon. Scott Morrison, Prime Minister of the commonwealth of Australia. The overview of the meeting is as follows. The leaders held a meeting accompanied only by their interpreters for the first 15 minutes. This was followed by a plenary meeting.
1 Opening remarks
- Prime Minister Abe touched upon his visit to a memorial dedicated to the war dead, which he made immediately prior to the meeting, and expressed his condolences to all who lost their lives in World War II and renewed his pledge for peace during the meeting. Prime Minister Abe stated that he would like to discuss concrete measures to further deepen the "Special Strategic Partnership" between the two countries.
- Prime Minister Morrison welcomed Prime Minister Abe's visit to Australia. Prime Minister Morrison stated that Prime Minister Abe constantly demonstrates leadership in maintaining peace and prosperity in the region, that he would collaborate with Prime Minister Abe to further enhance the special bilateral relationship, and that he appreciates Prime Minister Abe's expression of heartfelt condolences during his earlier visit to the memorial.
2 Economy
- Prime Minister Abe commented on the entry into force of the TPP11 Agreement by the end of the year, the swift conclusion of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), and reform of the World Trade Organization (WTO). The leaders shared the view on cooperating to maintain and strengthen the multilateral trading system based on free and open rules.
- The leaders welcomed the commencement of the Ichthys LNG Project. They praised the progress of Japan-Australia innovation cooperation, including the hydrogen made from a lignite energy project and the use of quasi zenith satellites, as well as other concrete cooperation between Japan and Australia in a variety of areas, including the agricultural industry, the fishery industry, and medicine. The leaders shared the view on further promoting their collaboration.
- The leaders also explained their respective position regarding whaling.
3 Security
- The leaders affirmed that the two countries share a vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific, and shared the view on working together for regional stability and prosperity. They also shared the view on strengthening Japan-Australia-U.S. and Japan-Australia-India trilateral cooperation as well as Japan-Australia-U.S.-India quadrilateral cooperation.
- The leaders affirmed that, based on the results of the Japan-Australia 2+2 Foreign and Defence Ministerial Consultations held in October, they would pursue deeper bilateral security and defense cooperation, including in the areas of exercises, capacity building assistance, and defense equipment and technology.
- The leaders welcomed the significant progress of the negotiations on the Reciprocal Access Agreement, which will reciprocally improve administrative, policy, and legal procedures, and shared the view on holding extensive discussions towards concluding the negotiations in early next year in order to facilitate Japan-Australia joint operations and exercises.
- The leaders affirmed strengthened cooperation on maritime security, noting the port call made in Darwin by the patrol vessel Echigo of the Japan Coast Guard, as well as the exchange of notes on cooperation between the Japanese and Australian coast guard authorities.
4 Regional affairs
- Regarding North Korean affairs, the leaders affirmed cooperation on the complete, verifiable and irreversible dismantlement (CVID) of all weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles of all ranges by North Korea, and shared the view on the importance of full implementation of United Nations Security Council resolutions. In addition, Prime Minister Abe conveyed his appreciation for Australia's deployment of aircrafts and a vessel to counter North Korea's ship-to-ship transfers. The leaders affirmed that Japan and Australia would continue to cooperate, including on countering ship-to-ship transfers. Prime Minister Abe asked for Australia's understanding and cooperation towards the early resolution of the abductions issue and received the support of Prime Minister Morrison.
- The leaders discussed the situations in Southeast Asia and the Pacific Island countries and region. They shared the view on advancing concrete cooperation between Japan and Australia in such areas as capacity building assistance in maritime security and strengthening connectivity.
leaders exchanging national rugby jerseys1
Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office
leaders exchanging national rugby jerseys2
Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office
Joint press announcement1
Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office
Joint press announcement2
Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office