By Xinhua,
Tokyo : Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda and visiting Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd agreed Thursday to build comprehensive strategic, security and economic partnership between the two countries.
According to the statement released after the two prime ministers’ first meeting in the morning, Japan and Australia will promote bilateral security cooperation through the implementation of the Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation and its Action Plan in order to “contribute to peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond.”
As allies of the United States, the two countries reaffirmed the strategic significance of their bilateral security and defense cooperation as well as the importance of the U.S. presence in the Asia-Pacific region.
The two prime ministers agreed to strengthen trilateral dialogues and cooperation with the United States by stepping up their own bilateral cooperation, and planned to have bilateral two-plus-two meeting between foreign ministers and defense ministers in Canberra this November.
Referring to economic relations, the two prime ministers shared the view that the Economic Partnership Agreement and the Free Trade Agreement would provide a good opportunity to strengthen and deepen the economic relationship. The two sides also decided to strengthen financial and services trade cooperation.
About climate change, Fukuda welcomed the ratification of the Kyoto Protocol by Australia and Rudd supported Japan’s leadership as the Group of Eight Chair of this year.
The two sides expressed their resolve to establish by the end of 2009 an effective international climate change framework in which all the major economies will participate.
“While developed should continue to take the lead, all major economies should make meaningful contributions in accordance with their responsibilities and capabilities,” the statement said.
The two prime ministers also reached consensus on a wide range of fields including energy and resources, scientific and technological cooperation, food safety, intellectual property protection and nuclear non-proliferation.
With regard to Australia’s strong criticism of Japan’s whaling activities, the two prime ministers agreed to take cool-headed approach toward the issue so that it will not undermine bilateral relations.
Rudd said at a joint press conference that the two countries’ disagreement on the whaling issue is disagreement between friends and Australia would like to spend some time for a “diplomatic settlement.”
Rudd arrived in Japan on Sunday for a five-day visit. He has visited the nuclear memorial park in Hiroshima and given a speech at Kyoto University.