Today marks the 50th anniversary of the Basic Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation between Australia and Japan.
Signed in 1976, the Treaty laid the foundation for a partnership built on trust, shared values and mutual prosperity.
Five decades on, Australia and Japan are close friends and Special Strategic Partners, working closely together to advance a free and open Indo-Pacific that is peaceful, stable and prosperous.
As announced by both Prime Ministers in May this year, a new Australia-Japan Leadership Dialogue will bring together leaders from across government, academia, business and civil society to help further strengthen bilateral ties.
I am pleased to announce that former Foreign Minister and Defence Minister Stephen Smith will be Australia’s Chair of the new dialogue. Mr Smith is eminently qualified to identify opportunities to deepen this important relationship.
The Australia-Japan Foundation has also awarded grants to three projects that will strengthen ties with Japan over the next year:
- The Shepherd Centre will collaborate with Macquarie University, Cochlear Ltd. and Japanese partners to deliver a program bringing together young Australians and Japanese people living with hearing loss, alongside clinicians and researchers, to share and compare experiences.
- The National Federation of Australia Japan Societies and the Australia-Japan Business Cooperation Committee will arrange an event at Parliament House to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Treaty.
- Japanese drumming group Byron Taiko will perform with Indigenous musicians at festivals across NSW and Queensland. The performances will be captured in a documentary to create a lasting record of this commemoration.
The Australia-Japan Foundation is Australia’s oldest cultural council. Its programs and networks have supported our engagement with Japan and strengthened our community and cultural links across generations.
