Japan-Australia Joint Foreign and Defence Ministerial Consultations

June 1, 2007

The Japan-Australia Joint Foreign and Defence Ministerial Consultations will be held on June 6 (Wed) in Tokyo.
The Consultations will be attended by, on the Japanese side: Mr. Taro Aso, Minister for Foreign Affairs; Mr. Fumio Kyuma, Minister of Defense; and on the Australian side, Hon Alexander Downer, Minister for Foreign Affairs; and Hon Dr Brendan Nelson, Minister for Defence.
The Consultations will be held for the first time based on the Japan-Australia Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation signed at the Japan-Australia Summit Meeting last March, and matters such as international situations including North Korean issues and specific measures to enhance Japan-Australia security cooperation will be discussed.
It is expected that the Consultations will further strengthen the strategic relationship between Japan and Australia.

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