Australia-Japan Foreign and Defence Ministers' Meeting

Minister for Foreign Affairs, the HonJulie Bishop MP and Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon Marise Payne willvisit Japan on 19 and 20 April to advance Australia's relationship with ourclosest strategic partner in Asia and one of our most important economicpartners.

Ministers will participate in theseventh Australia-Japan 2+2 Foreign and Defence Ministers' Meeting withJapanese counterparts, Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida and Defense MinisterTomomi Inada.

The 2+2meeting will continue our close dialogue and cooperation on key regionalsecurity and economic issues, including the concerning rhetoric and actions ofthe North Korean regime. We will discuss further deepening of our defenceengagement and cooperation, in keeping with our shared interests in a stable,open and peaceful Indo-Pacific and a rules-based global order.

Ministers will also meet seniormembers of parliament and foreign policy and security experts to discussdevelopments in the bilateral relationship and in the region.

Minister Bishop will meet MinisterKishida to discuss developments in the bilateral relationship and in theregion, and ways to further cooperate in meeting regional and globalchallenges.

Minister Payne will also meet MinisterInada to discuss the bilateral defence relationship in detail, includingopportunities to further deepen cooperation in the future, both bilaterally andtrilaterally with the United States.

The Australia-Japan Special StrategicPartnership, declared in 2014, is a vital pillar of our bilateral relationship.It is fundamentally important to both countries' strategic interests, and isunderpinned by our shared values.