Press Releases
Japan-Australia Foreign Ministers’ Telephone Talk
February 9, 2021
On February 9, commencing at 1:45 p.m. for approximately 40 minutes, Mr. MOTEGI Toshimitsu, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, held a telephone talk with Senator the Hon. Marise Payne, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Commonwealth of Australia. The overview is as follows.
- The two Ministers held an in-depth exchange of views on the situation in Myanmar and shared their current understanding and concern. They concurred to strongly urge the Myanmar military to swiftly restore Myanmar’s democratic political system and release those who were detained, including State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. The two Ministers confirmed that Japan and Australia would continue to closely coordinate together regarding the situation in Myanmar.
- In addition, the two Ministers exchanged their views regarding further deepening bilateral relations such as the security front, basing on the progress made in their relations through Prime Minister Morrison and Foreign Minister Payne’s respective visits to Japan last year. They concurred to closely coordinate among like-minded countries towards the realization of a Free and Open Indo-Pacific. They also shared the view to bolster collaboration among Japan-Australia-India-U.S.
- Furthermore, the two Ministers exchanged their views on China. The East and South China Seas were also discussed and they concurred to strongly oppose any attempts that seek to unilaterally change the status quo.