Japan-Australia Relations

On 1st March, commencing at 10:00am for approximately 30 minutes, a total of three people including a nephew and a grandchild related to former Australian prisoners of war (POW), as well as a staff from Returned and Services League (RSL) who were visiting Japan at the invitation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, paid a courtesy call on Dr. Toshiko Abe, State Minister for Foreign Affairs. The overview is as follows.

1. State Minister Abe expressed her hope that this invitation would contribute to reconciliation and friendship between the two countries, showed her gratitude for the past visits of Australian POWs on Japan-Australia Grassroots Program to Japan, and RSL’s great efforts towards commemoration event in 2017. State Minister Abe also mentioned the intention of the Government of Japan to pass down the reconciliation success between Japan and Australia into the next generation through the exchanges with the second and third generations of the former POWs, and further promote reconciliation and friendship between the two countries.
2. In response, people related to POWs expressed their gratitude for the invitation from the Government of Japan, and stated that they were pleased to be able to visit Japan, and they would like to contribute to further strengthen the friendly and future-oriented relationship between Japan and Australia. In addition, they expressed their will to pass down their stories of the visit to the next generation.
3. Additionally, State Minister Abe said that she hoped they would enjoy their stay in Japan, as well as expressed her hope that they would visit Japan again during the Rugby World Cup this year and the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2020. It was agreed that both sides would continue to make some efforts for friendship and cooperation between Japan and Australia.