Press Releases
The 5th Consular Consultation between Japan and Australia
July 31, 2025
On July 31, the 5th Consular Consultation between Japan and Australia was held in Canberra. It was attended on the Japanese side by officials headed by Mr. IWAMOTO Keiichi, Assistant Minister / Director-General, Consular Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and on the Australian side by officials headed by Ms. Elizabeth McGregor, First Assistant Secretary, Consular and Crisis Management Division, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Commonwealth of Australia.
- During the Consultation, Japan and Australia concurred on improving the environment to further promote people-to-people exchanges between the two countries, in view of the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Basic Treaty of Friendship and Co-operation between Japan and Australia next year. Specifically, both sides exchanged views on redoubling bilateral cooperation in the areas of Working Holiday Programmes, and protection of their respective nationals in such as incidents and accidents.
- Japan and Australia also exchanged views on cooperation in the evacuation of respective nationals from third countries during crises, which was concurred on by both sides on the occasion of the Eleventh Japan-Australia 2+2 Foreign and Defence Ministerial Consultations (“2+2”) held in September 2024.
- The next consultation will be held in Tokyo and will be scheduled through diplomatic channels.
After the consultation, Mr. IWAMOTO had an opportunity for exchange of opinions with Ms. Harinder Sidhu, Deputy Secretary (International Security, Legal and Consular Group), Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Commonwealth of Australia.