Press Releases
Japan-Australia Foreign Ministers’ Informal Talks
May 24, 2022
On May 24, commencing at 4:47 p.m. for approximately 20 minutes, Mr. HAYASHI Yoshimasa, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, prior to attending the Japan-Australia leaders meeting, held an informal talk with Senator the Hon. Penny Wong, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Commonwealth of Australia. The overview of the talk is as follows.
- At the outset, Minister Hayashi expressed his congratulations on the victory of the Australian Labor Party in the Australian federal election and on her election as Foreign Minister. While expressing how encouraging the announcement by the Labor government’s intention to have no change to the fundamental foreign and security policies of Australia is, Minister Hayashi further mentioned that he hoped to continue to work closely for the realization of a “Free and Open Indo-pacific”, as well as to further strengthen the “Special Strategic Partnership” between Japan and Australia.
- In response, Minister Wong mentioned that Australia needs the continuity of foreign policy as it confronts challenges such as economic coercion, and that in the current strategic environment, the new government also hoped to strengthen its cooperation with Japan, which is an important partner in the region.
- The two Ministers confirmed that the two countries would also continue to closely collaborate on Pacific Island countries including the Solomon Islands as well as on Southeast Asia.