“We reaffirm our unwavering commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific region, which relies, in particular, on … countries that are resilient to aggression, coercion, disinformation, malicious cyber activity and other forms of interference, as well as to global challenges such as pandemics , natural disasters and climate change,” the report said.
Kishida also confirmed that Australia will host the next Group of Four meeting in 2023.
Kishida and Albanese also discussed energy security and the security of critical minerals, and during the visit the leaders also signed the Australia-Japan Critical Minerals Partnership.
These minerals include rare earths and other commodities vital to advanced manufacturing technologies and renewable energy, where China controls much of the supply chain.
Albanese also confirmed that Australia had agreed to allow a probe from the Japanese space agency to land in Woomera in 2029 at the end of its mission on one of Mars’ moons to collect ground samples.
Kishida’s visit is the fourth meeting between the two prime ministers since Albanese took office in May.
Kishida arrived in Perth on Friday night and the pair met publicly at King’s Park near Perth’s CBD on Saturday morning, where they both attended a welcome ceremony complete with a half Australian Defense Force honor guard and a 19-gun salute.
Kishida and Albanese then spent time with two koalas, Eric and Henry, and a bookie, also known as a kangaroo rat, from Coversham Wildlife Park in Perth.
Energy security has also been at the center of discussions with Australia, and particularly Western Australia’s LNG sector, which produces much of the gas bought by Japanese energy companies.
Kishida’s visit to Australia was the first by a Japanese prime minister since Shinzo Abe in 2018.
Dr Alex Bristow of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute called the mutual agreement “extremely important”.
“It makes operations much smoother, and it’s important that both Australia and Japan are US alliance partners, increasing interoperability,” Bristow said.
Albanese and Kishida will attend a business lunch hosted at the Westin Hotel with WA Premier Mark McGowan and visit BHP’s nickel sulphate plant south of Perth later in the afternoon.
From AAP
https://www.watoday.com.au/national/western-australia/defence-energy-top-critical-japan-talks-in-wa-meeting-20221022-p5brzc.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_feed
