Oceania

Australia and Japan have established good bilateral relationships based on mutually complementary economic relations. In recent years, the two countries have also strengthened political and security cooperation, which has made them a strategic partner in the Asia-Pacific region.

As both countries are allies with the US in the Asia-Pacific region, the two countries have promoted the trilateral relations.

The two countries have strongly cooperated to tackle global and regional issues, such as nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament.

The two countries have also promoted people-to-people exchanges, including more than 100 sister-city relationships.

• (1) In order to establish diversified relations, the two countries promote active bilateral talks at a variety of levels. When Prime Minister Hashimoto visited Australia in April 1997, the two countries agreed to hold a Prime Ministers' meeting every year.
• (2) In May 2002, Prime Minister John Howard and visiting Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi announced a joint statement titled "Australia-Japan Creative Partnership," and agreed on concrete cooperation for a wide range of areas. Since then, a number of consultations in various areas took place between the two countries. For example, when Prime Minister Howard visited Japan in July 2003, "Australia-Japan Joint Statement on Cooperation to Combat International Terrorism" was announced.
• (3) When Foreign Minister Aso visited Australia to attend the First Trilateral Strategic Dialogue among Japan, Australia and the US in March 2006, he and Foreign Minister Downer issued a joint statement titled "Building a Comprehensive Strategic Relationship."
• (4) In March 2007, Japan-Australia Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation was signed by Prime Minister Aso and Prime Minister Howard during his visit to Japan.
• (5) Based on the Joint Declaration, the First Japan-Australia Joint Foreign and Defence Ministerial Consultations were held in Tokyo in June 2007, and a joint statement was issued.
• (6) During the APEC Leaders' Meeting in September 2007, the Japan-Australia Prime Ministers' Meeting was held, and the two Prime Ministers agreed with the Action Plan to implement the Japan-Australia Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation and "Enhancement of Cooperation on Climate Change and Energy Security."
• (7) In June 2008, Prime Minister Fukuda and visiting Prime Minister Rudd issued a joint statement on "Comprehensive Strategic, Security and Economic Partnership."
• (8) The Third Trilateral Strategic Dialogue among Foreign Minister Komura, Secretary of State Rice and Foreign Minister Smith was held in Kyoto in June 2008, and they issued a joint statement. Japan-Australia Foreign Ministers' meeting was also held.
• (9) Prime Minister Aso and Prime Minister Rudd held a meeting in New York in September 2008, and they issued a press announcement about International Commission on Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament, which was initiated as joint initiative of Japan and Australia. A report prepared by the International Commission was submitted to Prime Minister Hatoyama and Prime Minister Rudd in December 2009.
• (10) In December 2008, the Second Japan-Australia Joint Foreign and Defence Ministerial Consultations were held by Foreign Minister Nakasone, Defence Minister Hamada, Foreign Minister Smith and Defence Minister Fitzgibbon, and a joint statement was issued. Japan-Australia Foreign Ministers' meeting was also held.
• (11) Foreign Minister Nakasone visited Australia from April 30 to May 1, 2009, and paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Rudd in Melbourne and had a meeting with Foreign Minister Smith in Perth.
• (12) During the UN General Assembly in September 2009, Prime Minister Hatoyama and Prime Minister Rudd held a meeting. Also, Japan-Australia Foreign Ministers' meeting was held. Moreover, the Fourth Trilateral Strategic Dialogue was held by Foreign Minister Okada, Foreign Minister Smith and Secretary of State Clinton.
• (13) In December 2009, Prime Minister Rudd visited Japan and held a meeting with Prime Minister Hatoyama. The two Prime Ministers received a report drafted by the International Commission of Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament, with the presense of co-chairs of the Commission, Mr. Gareth Evans and Ms. Yoriko Kawaguchi.
• (14) In February 2010, Foreign Minister Okada visited Australia and had a meeting with Prime Minister Rudd, Foreign Minister Smith and Defence Minister Faulkner. In May, the Third Japan-Australia Joint Foreign and Defence Ministerial Consultations was held in Tokyo with the participation of Foreign Minister Okada, Defence Minister Kitazawa, Foreign Minister Smith and Defence Minister Faulkner. On that occasion, an "Agreement between the Government of Japan and the Government of Australia Concerning Reciprocal Provision of Supplies and Services between the Self-defense Forces of Japan and the Australian Defence Force" (ACSA) was signed. Moreover Japan-Australia Foreign Ministers meeting was also held.
• (15) In November 2010, Foreign Minister Maehara visited Australia and had a meeting with Prime Minister Gillard, Foreign Minister Rudd, Trade Minister Emerson, and Defence Minister Smith. In December 2010, Vice Foreign Minister Banno visited Perth, Melbourne, and Sydney.
• (16) In April 2011, Prime Minister Gillard visited Japan and met with Prime Minister Kan, Foreign Minister Matsumoto, Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Kaieda, Defence Minister Kitazawa. Prime Minister Gillard paid a visit to Minami Sanriku with Foreign Minister Matsumoto, one of the devastated areas of the Great East Japan Earthquake.
• (17) In November 2011, Prime Minister Noda had a meeting with Prime Minister Gillard visiting Bali, Indonesia for the ASEAN Summit.
• (18) In May 2012, Foreign Minister Carr visited Japan and had a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Okada and Foreign Minister Gemba and "Agreement Between The Government of Japan and The Government of Australia on The Security of Information [PDF]" was signed.
• (19) In September 2012, bilateral meeting "4th Japan-Australia Joint Foreign and Defence Ministerial Consultations (2+2)" was held in Sydney with a joint statement "Australia and Japan-Cooperating for peace and stability Common Vision and Objectives [PDF]". In the same month, Defence Minister Smith visited Japan and met with Deputy Prime Minister Okada, Defence Minister Morimoto, Vice Foreign Minister Yamaguchi.
• (20) In September 2012, Prime Minister Noda visiting New York, the United States for the United Nations General Assembly had a meeting with Prime Minister Gillard.
• (21) In November 2012, Prime Minister Noda visiting Phnom Penh, Cambodia for ASEAN Summit met with Prime Minister Gillard.
• (22) In January 2013, Foreign Minister Kishida visited Australia and met with Foreign Minister Carr and Trade Minister Emerson. In January, "Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreemet (ACSA)" came into effect and in March "Agreement Between The Government of Japan and The Government of Australia on The Security of Information" came into force. In July Defence Minister Smith visited Japan and had a meeting with Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga and Defence Minister Onodera.
• (23) In July 2013, Foreign Minister Kishida visiting Brunei for the ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting had a meeting with Foreign Minister Carr.
• (24) In September 2013, Foreign Minister Kishida visiting New York, the United States for the United Nations General Assembly had a meeting with Foreign Minister Bishop.
• (25) In October 2013, Foreign Minister Kishida visiting Bali, Indonesia for APECT Ministers Meeting held with Secretary of State Kerry and Foreign Minister Bishop the Fifth Ministerial Meeting of the Trilateral Strategic Dialogue (TSD).
• (26) In October 2013, Prime Minister Abe visiting Brunei for the ASEAN Summit had a meeting with Prime Minister Abbott.
• (27) In October 2013, Foreign Minister Bishop visited Japan and had a foreign ministerial meeting and paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Abe.
• (28) In January 2014, Prime Minister Abe visiting Switzerland for the World Economic Forum (Davos Meeting) had a meeting with Prime Minister Abbott.

(1) Trade

Prime Minister John Howard and Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi singed the Australia-Japan Trade and Economic Framework in July 2003, when the Australian Prime Minister visited Japan. Based on the framework, the two countries conducted the joint research on liberalisation of trade and investment until April 2005. At the Prime Ministers' meeting held in Tokyo in April 2005, both leaders agreed to start the joint research on the feasibility of concluding an FTA and its merits/demerits. Five meetings of the joint research and two Australia-Japan Joint Committees resulted in the final report in December 2006. In the same month, the two Prime Ministers held a phone talk and agreed to launch bilateral EPA negotiations from 2007. The EPA negotiations were held for 11 times from April 2007 to September 2010. Moreover, in February 2007, both countries also signed the Agreement between Japan and Australia on Social Security, which came into effect in January 2009. Furthermore, the amendment to the Japan-Australia Taxation Convention was signed in January 2008 and came into effect in December 2008.

(A) Japan's Exports to Australia

• JPY1,470 billion (2012)
• Principal export items: Transportation equipment (automobiles, their parts, etc.), general machinery, electrical equipment, rubber products (tires, etc.), chemicals, precision machinery, iron and steel, textile products.

(B) Japan's Imports from Australia

• JPY4,503 billion (2011-2012)
• Principal import items: Coal, iron ore, natural gas, beef, gold, wood chips, aluminum ingots, alumina, petroleum and petroleum products, wool.

(2) Investment

The stock of Japanese direct investment in Australia stands at AUD $52,334 million (the 3rd largest), as of the end of 2011.