Joint Media release

with Minister for Defence, The Hon Joel Fitzgibbon MP

17 December 2008

Second Australia-Japan Joint Foreign and Defence Ministerial Consultations

Stephen Smith, Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Joel Fitzgibbon, Minister for Defence, will visit Tokyo on 18 December for the second Australia-Japan Joint Foreign and Defence Ministerial Consultations (the so-called 2+2 meeting).

Australia and Japan share a comprehensive economic, security and strategic partnership, based on enduring friendship, shared democratic values, enduring trade and investment links and common alliance ties with the United States.

At the 2+2 meeting, Australia and Japan will discuss global and regional security issues and ways to enhance Australia-Japan strategic cooperation.

Through strategic cooperation with Japan, Australia will be better able to support regional peace and stability by enhanced cooperation in peacekeeping, humanitarian assistance, disaster relief and development assistance.

The 2+2 meeting will also reaffirm the commitment made by the Australian and Japanese Prime Ministers in June 2008 to promote bilateral security cooperation between Australia and Japan, and to work together to contribute to peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond.

Japan will be represented at the meeting by Foreign Minister Nakasone and Defence Minister Hamada.

In order to better reflect our growing Defence relationship, Mr Fitzgibbon and Mr Hamada will also sign a new Memorandum of Defence Cooperation. The new Memorandum builds upon the previous 2003 Memorandum on Defence Exchange, by expanding potential new avenues for cooperation in areas such as personal exchanges, exercise activities and unit visits.

During the visit, Mr Smith and Mr Fitzgibbon will also discuss international, regional and bilateral issues with senior Japanese political figures.

Media inquiries: Mr Smith's office 02 6277 7500 - Departmental Media Liaison 02 6261 1555