16 August 1995

AUSTRALIA-JAPAN MINISTERIAL COMMITTEE MEETING

The meeting will be chaired jointly by the Australian Foreign Minister, Senator Gareth Evans, and Japanese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Mr Yohei Kono.

The other Japanese Ministers participating will be Mr Hosei Norota, Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries; Mr Ryutaro Hashimoto, Minister for International Trade and Industry; Mr Takeo Hiranuma, Minister for Transport; and Mr Isamu Miyazaki, Minister of State and Director-General of the Economic Planning Agency. Also taking part will be Mr Takatoshi Kato, Vice Minister of Finance for International Affairs.

On the Australian side, Ministers are expected to include Hon Ralph Willis, Treasurer; Senator Peter Cook, Minister for Industry, Science & Technology; Senator Bob Collins, Minister for Primary Industries & Energy; Senator Bob McMullan, Minister for Trade; Hon Laurie Brereton, Minister for Industrial Relations and Minister for Transport; and Hon David Beddall, Minister for Resources.

The meetings of the AJMC are held every 18 months to two years, alternately in Tokyo and Canberra, and are a reflection of the importance the two countries place on their relationship.

This meeting will provide the opportunity to build upon the Joint Declaration issued during Prime Minister Keating's visit to Japan in May. In line with the two Prime Ministers' commitment to build on a relationship of unprecedented quality, Ministers will be seeking to find maximum common ground on the further development of cooperation across all areas of the relationship.

Issues to be discussed will include the shared common regional objectives of both countries, including the implementation of the APEC Bogor Declaration, global issues of mutual interest including nuclear testing and the implementation of Uruguay Round outcomes, and the full range of bilateral matters, including Australia's concerns in relation to market access in Japan.

Melbourne