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Japan-Australia Relationship
19 December 2008
In a speech in Tokyo, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Stephen Smith, has described the Japan-Australia relationship as of increasing strategic importance to both countries.
Mr Smith, and the Minister for Defence, Joel Fitzgibbon, visited Tokyo on 18 December for the second Australia-Japan Joint Foreign and Defence Ministerial Consultations (the so-called 2+2 meeting). The meeting is one of only three formal foreign and defence strategic dialogues that Australia has world-wide, the others being with the United States and the United Kingdom.
On his fourth visit to Japan this year, Mr Smith said: "Such a meeting could only take place in the closest of relationships. The 2+2 highlights the reality that Australia and Japan are firm friends, close partners and key players in addressing regional and global security challenges."
"Our relationship, built on a long term economic partnership, is importantly underpinned by shared values, intersecting interests and common approaches to international security challenges."