Countries & Regions

On October 15, commencing at 5:40 p.m. for approximately 15 minutes, Mr. Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan, received a courtesy call from the Hon Julie Bishop　MP, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Australia, who was visiting Japan. An overview of the meeting is as follows:

 

1. At the beginning of the meeting, Prime Minister Abe congratulated Foreign Minister Bishop on her inauguration and welcomed her choice of Japan as one of the destinations for her first official visit to North East Asia. Moreover, Prime Minister Abe stated that he would like to continue cooperation with Australia, mentioning that the leaders of the two countries shared views on further enhancing the “strategic partnership” between Japan and Australia to “a new stage.” in the Japan-Australia Summit Meeting held on October 9 in Brunei.

 

2. In response to this, Foreign Minister Bishop stated that Japan is “the best friend in Asia” for Australia and she would like to strengthen bilateral relations in the future as well. Foreign Minister Bishop also stated that September 7 was the day on which the change of administration occurred in Australia, while Tokyo won the bid for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, and once again congratulated Japan on hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2020. In response to this, Prime Minister Abe expressed his gratitude.

 

3. Furthermore, Prime Minister Abe stated that Japan emphasized Australia as a strategic partner, and together would like to lead the strengthening of cooperation in security and defense, and creation of order based on the rule of law in the Asia-Pacific region. In response to this, Foreign Minister Bishop stated that while Australia and Japan had maintained close economic ties, she would like to strengthen relations in the fields of security and people-to-people exchanges as well.