Top �� What's up around the Prime Minister �� May, 2002

Japan - Australia Summit Meeting Wednesday, May 1, 2002 Click photographs to enlarge As part of his visit to Asia-Pacific countries, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi held a Summit Meeting with Prime Minister John Winston Howard of Australia in Canberra, Australia on May 1, 2002. During the Summit Meeting, the leaders agreed to newly establish consultations at the deputy minister level and working groups at the director level between the two governments as a framework for strengthening economic partnership with a view to establishing a free trade agreement (FTA). Moreover, the leaders agreed to build a "Creative Partnership" between Japan and Australia in order to enhance cooperation in the areas of politics, security and economics. They also agreed that in order to promote security dialogue, the Japanese Minister of State for Defense would visit Australia at an early date and that consultations would be held between the Environment Ministers of both countries on the issues relating to the ratification of the Kyoto Protocol to prevent global warming. Following the meeting, Prime Minister Koizumi and Prime Minister Howard held a Joint Press Conference to announce the content of the agreements they reached. After the Joint Press Conference, Prime Minister Koizumi laid a wreath at the tomb of the unknown soldier.