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[Provisional Translation]

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe hosted a summit meeting and other events for the Hon. Malcolm Turnbull MP, Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia, at Akasaka Palace State Guest House and elsewhere. First, the two leaders held a meeting in a tea room at the Urasenke Tokyo Branch. Next, at Akasaka Palace State Guest House, the two leaders received a salute and attended a ceremony by the guard of honor and then held a summit meeting. Following this, the leaders held a joint press announcement. Lastly, the Prime Minister invited Prime Minister Turnbull and other relevant parties to a banquet he hosted.

In his greetings, the Prime Minister made the following remarks:

“I would like to extend my heartfelt welcome to the Hon. Malcolm Turnbull MP, Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia, upon his visit to Japan. Since assuming the office of Prime Minister, I have proactively developed diplomacy that takes a panoramic perspective of the world map. As part of this, I have been placing special importance on our relationship with Australia. Australia is an irreplaceable partner with which we share the universal values of freedom, democracy, basic human rights, and the rule of law, as well as strategic interests. The special relationship we have with Australia is pivotal for the Asia-Pacific region. Today, I shared the view with Prime Minister Turnbull that we would strongly develop cooperative activities between Japan and Australia in a wide range of fields, including political economy, security, culture, and personal exchanges. I am pleased to have been able to announce a joint statement that will serve as a guidepost for the unwavering strategic relationship between Japan and Australia. That is not the full extent of our bilateral bonds. The first person who comes to mind right now as an Australian star for Japanese people is Eddie Jones, the former head coach of the national Japanese rugby team. With the excellent performance of the Japanese team in the World Cup, he made possible something that was thought to be impossible for anyone, giving courage to everyone across Japan. Although Japan did not break through the pool stage, many leaders at the G20, including Prime Minister Cameron and Prime Minister Key, gave me their congratulations on our performance. President Zuma of South Africa told me that he still could not accept that South Africa had lost that match with Japan. Japan received a wonderful gift from Australia in Mr. Jones, and we learned a great deal from him. Rugby is now a sport that is well known by everyone in Japan. In 2019, Japan will host the Rugby World Cup. I am now excited by the prospect of seeing a final match between Japan and Australia, if possible. To tonight’s banquet we have invited leaders who are supporting these irreplaceable friendly relations between Japan and Australia in a variety of fields, including politics, economy, and culture, as well as people from all areas who are active in the field of innovation, an area prioritized by Prime Minister Turnbull. We have all of you to thank for the wonderful relationship between Japan and Australia that exists today. I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to everyone, and to say that I would be grateful for your support toward the further development of our relationship. Remembering the delicious Australian wine that I was served during my visit to Australia last year, tonight we are serving Japanese sake. I hope to have an enjoyable time with you all discussing the future of Japan and Australia. With that said, I would like to offer a toast to the continued development of the Japan-Australia relationship.”