JAPAN / AUSTRALIA – On November 16, Hayashi Yoshimasa, minister for foreign affairs of Japan, held a video teleconference with Senator Marise Payne, minister for foreign affairs of the Commonwealth of Australia.
In a press release, the ministry of foreign affairs (MOFA,) said: “Minister Payne congratulated minister Yoshimasa on his appointment as foreign minister, stating that he hopes to work hand in glove elevating the “Special Strategic Partnership” between Japan and Australia to a higher level, and cooperate with her toward the realization of a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific.”
The two ministers concurred that they would communicate closely with each other to further advance the Japan-Australia relations through:
- Cooperation in the areas of security and defense and economy;
- Coordination with allies and like-minded countries, including cooperation between Japan, Australia, India, US and between Japan, Australia and the US;
- Cooperation on global issues.
The Japan-Australia ministers also shared their strong opposition to any unilateral attempts to “change the status quo by force in the East and South China Seas and any economic coercion, shared the view on the situation in North Korea including its nuclear and missile-related activities and confirmed that they would continue to work together on the response to North Korea, including the abductions issue.”