Meeting between Prime Minister Noda and Australian Prime Minister Gillard

December 14, 2011

(Japanese)

(Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office)

On November 19, Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda met with his Australian counterpart Julia Gillard in Bali, the Republic of Indonesia, on the sidelines of ASEAN-related summit meetings. An outline of their talks is as follows:

1. At the outset, Prime Minister Gillard expressed hope for Japan's early recovery from the devastation brought about by the Great East Japan Earthquake, adding that she still had a vivid memory of what she saw on her visit to the disaster-hit town of Minamisanriku in Miyagi Prefecture last April. In response, Prime Minister Noda expressed his gratitude for assistance and encouragement by Australian government and people, including the dispatch of the C17 military transport aircraft. Prime Minister Noda expressed his condolences to the bereaved families of Australian military personnel who sacrificed their lives in Afghanistan. He paid tribute to Australia's contribution to the reconstruction of Afghanistan, and pledged his government's continued assistance for the reconstruction of the country.
2. Prime Minister Gillard explained that at her recent meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama, they agreed on the deployment of U.S. Forces on a rotational basis in the Northern Territory of Australia. Prime Minister Noda responded by saying that the agreement was good news, coming at a time when the U.S. was showing greater interest in and commitment to the Asia-Pacific region. He also expressed hope for closer cooperation between Japan and Australia in the area of security. The two Prime Ministers concurred that the next meeting of the Japan-Australia Joint Foreign and Defense Ministerial Consultations ("2+2") should be held at an early date.
3. Prime Minister Noda stated that Japan is in the position of promoting high-level economic partnership. He also expressed his intention to promote the negotiations of Japan-Australia Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with a view to achieving high-level trade and investment liberalization and expressed his hope that serious consideration would be given on the matters of the other party's interest in the course of negotiations. The two prime ministers shared the view to hold the next round of the EPA negotiations in December.
4. Prime Minister Noda reiterated that Japan had decided to enter into consultations toward participating in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations with the countries concerned and asked for Prime Minister Guilard's cooperation in the consultation. Prime Minister Gillard welcomed Japan's decision and expressed her hope for TPP Agreement to be comprehensive and of high quality.
5. The two Prime Ministers shared the view that the East Asia Summit (EAS) should be developed into a Leaders-led forum to confirm common principles and fundamental rules on maritime and other issues in the region. They also exchanged views on the roles played by the G20 and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in the world economy.