The Prime Minister of Japan, HE Mr Shinzo Abe, will make an official visit to Australia from 7-10 July as a guest of the Australian Government.
It will be the first bilateral visit to Australia by a Japanese Prime Minister since 2002.
Australia and Japan share a strong friendship based on common values, growing commercial and people-to-people links and shared interests.
We are both committed to the peace, stability and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific region.
We owe much of our economic prosperity over the last 50 years to our bilateral trade and investment following the signature of the Commerce Agreement in 1957.
Japan is Australia’s second-largest trading partner with two-way trade worth almost $70 billion in 2012-13 and Australia is a significant supplier of energy and resources to Japan.
Japan is a pilot country for the New Colombo Plan, which I launched during my visit to Japan in April. More than 140 Australian students are taking part in the first round of the Plan in Japan.
During his visit, Prime Minister Abe will address a joint sitting of the Houses of Parliament, meet senior Cabinet Ministers and sign the Japan-Australia Economic Partnership Agreement.
Mr Abe will also travel to the Pilbara and Perth. His visit to Australia, accompanied by a senior business delegation, will further strengthen our special relationship and build on the outcomes of our recent meetings in Japan.
I look forward to welcoming Prime Minister Abe to Australia and witnessing his historic address to Parliament.
30 June 2014