I have arrived in Canberra, the capital of Australia. As Prime Minister of Japan, this is my first visit to Australia in about three and a half years.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Japan-Australia Basic Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation. Amid a regional security environment that is becoming increasingly severe, collaboration with Australia, with whom we have built an unwavering friendly relationship over this half-century, is growing ever more important.
With Prime Minister Albanese, I intend to discuss cooperation across a wide range of areas—including economic security (encompassing critical minerals and energy security), the economy, security (which has formed the foundation of the robust Japan-Australia relationship in recent years), and people-to-people exchanges—while also engaging in serious and candid exchanges of views on regional situations and the current harsh international environment, with the aim of reaffirming the partnership between our two countries.
: Sanae Takaichi
Prime Minister of Japan