I will visit Japan from 2 to 3 August 2001 to engage senior Japanese leaders on key economic, regional and global issues of importance to Australia and Japan.
The focus of my visit to Tokyo will be meetings with Japan's Prime Minister Mr Junichiro Koizumi and key ministers of his administration. I also plan to meet a range of Japanese parliamentarians as well as industry leaders and other prominent Japanese figures associated with Australia.
Japan is Australia's largest trading partner. Its economic importance to Australia is immense. Total trade was worth over $42 billion last year. Japanese companies are major investors in Australia and employ directly 50,000 Australians.
The relationship between Australian and Japan is close and long-standing. The Australia-Japan Conference, which I addressed in April, examined ways of taking the substantial relationship between our two countries into the 21st century. I look forward to discussing with Mr Koizumi these ideas for building closer ties between our two countries.
I shall also discuss with Mr Koizumi global and regional developments on which Japan and Australia work closely, including the climate change negotiations and regional economic developments. Both countries have a close interest in developments in Indonesia, and I will encourage Mr Koizumi to continue to support Indonesia's transition to a modern, democratic state.
I shall discuss with Mr Koizumi the active measures being taken by Japan and Australia to secure the launch this year of a new round of global trade negotiations.
25 July 2001