Countries & Regions

On September 23, commencing at 3:00 p.m. for approximately 30 minutes, Mr. Fumio Kishida, Minister for Foreign Affairs, who is currently visiting New York to attend the United Nations General Assembly, held a Japan-Australia Foreign Ministers’ Meeting with the Hon Julie Bishop MP, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Australia. An overview of the meeting is as follows.

 

1. Foreign Minister Kishida expressed his congratulations regarding the victory in the parliamentary elections in Australia and her appointment as Foreign Minister, and stated that Japan and Australia are strategic partners that share the same fundamental values and strategic interests. He added that he intends to closely cooperate with Foreign Minister Bishop and elevate relations between Japan and Australia to a new stage. Foreign Minister Bishop conveyed her approval and commented that she intends to deepen cooperative relations between the two countries in a variety of fields.    

 

2. Foreign Minister Kishida stated that he heard that one Australian citizen was killed in the terrorist attack in Kenya, and he expressed his condolences. He also commented that terrorism absolutely cannot be forgiven, and that he intends to closely cooperate with Australia in the fight against terrorism. Foreign Minister Bishop expressed her approval. 

 

3. The two foreign ministers affirmed that Japan and Australia would move forward with cooperation in order to develop cooperation in the fields of security and defense, and deepen economic relations including through a Japan-Australia EPA, TPP, and RCEP. The two foreign ministers also shared the view that they would carry out the promotion of people-to-people exchanges, including youth exchanges.   

 

4. Foreign Minister Bishop expressed her congratulations regarding Tokyo’s successful bid to host the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and Foreign Minister Kishida expressed his gratitude, and stated that Japan intends to learn from Australia’s experience of successfully hosting the Sydney Olympics in 2000. 

 

5. Furthermore, the two foreign ministers affirmed that they would cooperate as co-chairs of the Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Initiative (NPDI) Foreign Ministers Meeting to be held on September 24. Foreign Minister Kishida stated that he intends to firmly cooperate with Australia, which is a monthly chair of the United Nations Security Council, regarding the situation in Syria, and Foreign Minister Bishop expressed her approval.