Third Australia–Japan Conference Opens in Melbourne

We urge participants in the third Australia-Japan Conference (AJC 3) to be ambitious in identifying new areas for Australia-Japan collaboration.

AJC 3, to be held in Melbourne from 11 to 12 February, will bring together around 40 eminent representatives from business, government academia and the arts to discuss ways to ensure that Australia-Japan relations remains substantial, relevant and vigorous.

Mr Hugh Morgan, President of the Australia Japan Business Cooperation Committee, and Mr Kenji Yoshizawa, Adviser to the President of Tokyo Mitsubishi Bank, will chair the conference.

Australia and Japan have shared one of the most productive partnerships in the region in the post-war period. To continue that success we must ensure we don’t take the relationship for granted and AJC 3 aims to enliven our engagement.

Japan is Australia's largest merchandise export market, worth $22.2 billion in 2004, and is a key trading partner. We supply 58 per cent of Japan’s coal needs and are its second largest automotive market outside Japan.

Australia and Japan also have a growing defence and security relationship, reflecting shared values and strategic interests. We are intensifying our cooperation on issues such as combating terrorism and preventing weapons proliferation.

AJC 3 will build on the outcomes of the inaugural conference, held in Sydney in April 2001 at the initiative of Prime Minister Howard and the late former Japanese Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi, and the second conference held in Tokyo in November 2002.

NB: Mr Vaile will deliver the keynote address at the opening of the conference and Mr Downer will speak at the conference dinner.

Media inquiries: Mr Downer’s office 02 6277 7500 - Mr Vaile’s office 02 6277 7420