Japan-Australia Prime Ministers' Meeting
12 June 2008
On 12 June 2008, Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda of Japan had a bilateral meeting in Tokyo with visiting Prime Minister Kevin Rudd of Australia for an hour from 10:50am, followed by a working lunch from 12:10pm for 45 minutes. The abstract of the bilateral meeting and the working lunch is as follows.
1. Japan-Australia Bilateral Relationship
The two Prime Ministers affirmed their commitment to cooperate based upon the Joint Statement on ''Comprehensive Strategic, Security and Economic Partnership'' issued today.
(1) Security Cooperation
(a) The two Prime Ministers underlined that Japan and Australia are comprehensive strategic, security and economic partners and committed to further strengthen the security cooperation towards peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region.
(b) The two Prime Ministers confirmed their commitment to hold the Japan-Australia Joint Foreign and Defence Ministerial Consultations this year.
(c) Prime Minister Fukuda welcomed Prime Minister Rudd's idea of establishing an international commission on nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament. The two Prime Ministers reaffirmed that they would continue to closely cooperate in this field including strengthening the regime of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
(2) Economic Relations
(a) The two Prime Ministers reaffirmed that the Japan-Australia economic relationship is highly complementary including food and energy trade and expressed their determination to further strengthen the bilateral economic relationship.
(b) Prime Minister Rudd proposed to enhance cooperation in the services sector, especially in financial services, as the fourth pillar of the Japan-Australia economic relationship; building on the existing three pillars: mineral resources, manufactured products and agricultural goods. Prime Minister Fukuda responded that he would like the details to be discussed in each area of cooperation on an area by area basis.
(c) The two Prime Ministers affirmed their commitment to working towards a mutually beneficial Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) / Free Trade Agreement (FTA), bearing in mind the sensitivities in agriculture. Prime Minister Fukuda stated that he attached importance to a stable supply of energy and mineral resources from Australia to Japan in the context of the Economic Partnership Agreement.
2. Trilateral Cooperation between Japan, Australia and the United States of America
The two Prime Ministers affirmed the critical importance of cooperation between Japan, Australia and the United States of America in ensuring peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region. They confirmed that the two countries would continue to cooperate in order to produce concrete outcomes in the third ministerial meeting of the Trilateral Strategic Dialogue (TSD) to be held in late June.
3. Future of the Asia-Pacific Region
Prime Minister Rudd proposed to commence discussion with countries including Japan on a comprehensive community in the Asia-Pacific region, which encompasses political and security cooperation. Prime Minister Fukuda responded that he shared an interest in future cooperation and would like to discuss it with Australia and other countries concerned.
4. Climate Change
(1) Prime Minister Fukuda welcomed the ratification of the Kyoto Protocol by Australia. Prime Minister Rudd welcomed the leadership of Prime Minister Fukuda.
(2) The two Prime Ministers affirmed the necessity of a new framework in which all major economies participate in a responsible manner and confirmed that they would cooperate for the success of the upcoming G8 Summit and the Major Economic Meeting (MEM).
5. Food Security
The two Prime Ministers shared strong concerns over the trend of high prices of food and confirmed the need to tackle this issue in a cooperative manner.
6. Whaling
Recognising that Japan and Australia have different views on whaling, the two Prime Ministers decided to continue discussions both bilaterally and at the IWC so that the issue would not undermine the bilateral relationship.
7. China
Prime Minister Fukuda explained the recent good Japan-China relationship to Prime Minister Rudd, including President Hu Jintao's visit to Japan. Prime Minister Rudd welcomed the improvement of the Japan-China relationship.
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