Japan-Australia Relations
Japan-Australia Summit Telephone Talk
September 20, 2020
On September 20, commencing at around 7:55 p.m. for approximately 20 minutes, Mr. SUGA Yoshihide, Prime Minister of Japan, held a summit telephone talk with the Hon. Scott Morrison, MP, Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia. The overview of the talk is as follows.
- Prime Minister Morrison conveyed his congratulations and his desire to establish a good relation with Prime Minister Suga. In return, Prime Minister Suga thanked Prime Minister Morrison and stated his willingness to build a good relationship with Prime Minister Morrison like his predecessor did with a deep trust, and to strengthen the Japan-Australia relationship.
- The leaders confirmed that, as “Special Strategic Partners,” they would further develop their complementary economic relationship. Looking ahead to suppression of COVID-19, the leaders also confirmed the importance of realizing the “Free and Open Indo-Pacific,” deepening their cooperation for the stability and prosperity of the international community as a whole, and collaborating with like-minded countries in the region. In addition, Prime Minister Suga requested Australia’s continued cooperation in early resolution of the North Korean abductions issue.
- Prime Minister Morrison expressed his gratitude for the devoted and brave search and rescue operation to date by Japan Coast Guard in the case of missing livestock cargo ship “Gulf Livestock 1” which had two Australians aboard. Prime Minister Suga replied that Japan would cooperate as much as possible.