Japan-Australia Relations
Japan-Australia Foreign Ministers’ Meeting
December 11, 2021
On December 11, commencing at 6:10 p.m. local time (On December 12, at 3:10 a.m. JST) for approximately 20 minutes, Mr. HAYASHI Yoshimasa, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, who was visiting the United Kingdom to attend G7 Foreign and Development Ministers’ Meeting, held a meeting with Senator the Hon. Marise Payne, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Commonwealth of Australia. The overview of the meeting is as follows.
- At the outset, Minister HAYASHI stated that he hopes to work with Minister Payne in elevating the “Special Strategic Partnership” between Japan and Australia to a higher level, and continue to unite in their collaboration toward the realization of a "Free and Open Indo-Pacific".
- The two Ministers concurred that they would further strengthen the security cooperation between Japan and Australia based on the shared perception of the region’s strategic challenges. Concerning the coordination with allies and like-minded countries, they confirmed the importance of maintaining the momentum toward concrete cooperation between Japan, Australia, India and the U.S. and between Japan, Australia and the U.S.
- In this regard, the two Ministers shared their assessment that the joint media statement announced today by Japan, Australia and the U.S., and the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), Kiribati and Nauru, regarding the project to build a new undersea cable in East Micronesia had a big significance. Furthermore, they confirmed that Japan and Australia would continue to assist the efforts to build quality infrastructure in the Indo-Pacific region including by utilizing the framework of Japan, Australia and the U.S.