Tokyo, Oct. 21 (BNA) Officials from the two countries said that defense and energy security will be the focus of discussions when Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida meets with his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese this weekend.
“Australia is the most important country in Japan’s energy policy,” Kishida told reporters in Tokyo on Friday before boarding a flight to Perth. “I want to have frank discussions about the importance of securing a stable supply of energy resources.”
Reuters reported that several Australian state leaders have argued that domestic gas production should be prioritized for the domestic market to avoid shortages.
Australia is a major supplier of iron ore, coal and gas to Japan, and the meeting will take place in the Western Australian capital, 3,700 kilometers (2,300 miles) from the capital Canberra, to highlight the country’s importance in supplying Japan’s energy needs. Including renewable energy. It is also a major source of beef and wheat in Japan.
Officials said Australia and Japan are also expected to sign a new security cooperation agreement, updating one struck in 2007, to respond to a dramatically changing regional security environment.
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