Japanese Prime Minister Holds Talks with Australian Prime Minister and Issues Joint Statement Emphasizing Joint Development of Rare Earth Supply Chain

Starting at 11:15 a.m. local time (10:15 a.m. Japan time) on May 4, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Tachibana, during her visit to Canberra, Australia, held a summit meeting with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, followed by the signing ceremony of the "Japan-Australia Joint Declaration on Economic Security Cooperation." Additionally, a small-scale discussion took place approximately 30 minutes after the start of the summit, focusing on cooperation in critical minerals and energy security during this visit.

At the beginning of the meeting, Prime Minister Albanese welcomed Prime Minister Tachibana's visit to Australia and expressed hope for further strengthening Japan-Australia collaboration across a broad range of areas—including defense and security, economic and trade relations including energy and critical minerals, and people-to-people exchanges—to elevate their "Special Strategic Partnership" to a new level and jointly contribute to regional peace and prosperity.

In response, Prime Minister Tachibana noted that, as both nations celebrate the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Basic Treaty on Good-Neighborly Relations between Japan and Australia, they are increasingly deepening cooperation as like-minded countries and key forces for regional stability. In light of an increasingly complex and challenging international situation, she expressed hope that Japan and Australia would jointly lead the region toward peace and stability under the upgraded vision of the "Free and Open Indo-Pacific" (FOIP), announced just two days prior.

On May 2, Prime Minister Tachibana delivered a foreign policy speech in Hanoi, Vietnam, outlining the upgraded FOIP concept and identifying the following as priority areas:

"Building an economic ecosystem for the AI and data era, including enhancing supply chain resilience in energy and essential materials";

"Promoting joint frontier initiatives involving government and private sectors and sharing rules";

"Expanding cooperation in security domains to uphold regional peace and stability."

The two leaders welcomed the signing of the "Japan-Australia Joint Declaration on Economic Security Cooperation," as well as two accompanying joint statements on critical minerals and energy security issued under its framework, and affirmed their commitment to advancing concrete bilateral cooperation based on these documents.

Furthermore, the leaders expressed strong concern over export restrictions on critical minerals and other resources that could cause significant negative impacts on global supply chains, and confirmed that to strengthen supply chain resilience in critical minerals and ensure stable, two-way energy supplies—enhancing both "autonomy" and "resilience"—both sides will intensify cooperation within the framework of the "Partnership for Strengthening Asian Energy and Resource Supply Capacity" (Power Asia).

In the area of security, the leaders instructed relevant ministers to study specific plans before the next summit visit to further enhance and fully institutionalize security cooperation. They also unanimously agreed to fully leverage Australia’s geographical advantages to strengthen defense collaboration.

Regarding the current situation in the Middle East, including developments in Iran, the two leaders reaffirmed the importance of ensuring freedom and safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and agreed to continue close cooperation to secure stable supply of essential goods and promote early de-escalation of tensions.

In addition, the two leaders agreed to jointly lead the realization and strategic upgrading of the "Free and Open Indo-Pacific" (FOIP) initiative and further strengthen cooperation among like-minded nations, including the Quad (Japan, U.S., Australia, India), the trilateral Japan-U.S.-Australia partnership, and the Japan-Australia-New Zealand-South Korea (IP4) grouping.

They also exchanged views on various issues related to China, including nuclear and missile matters, the abduction issue concerning North Korea, broader East Asian regional dynamics, and strengthening ties with Southeast Asia and Pacific island nations, and agreed to enhance coordination.

In the post-summit "Japan-Australia Joint Declaration on Economic Security Cooperation," the two leaders stated:

"We will base our cooperation on government-supported investment partnerships, recognizing the strategic value of Japanese companies participating in Australian projects involving critical minerals such as rare earths and gallium. We will seek further investment and off-take opportunities, including developing new projects, ensuring stable operations of existing projects, and collaborating with the United States and other like-minded partners and multilateral development banks. We acknowledge the important role played by government institutions such as the Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC), the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), and Australia's Export Finance Corporation in promoting private-sector investment, and commit to enhancing coordination among these institutions."

"We recognize that maintaining domestic refining and metal processing capabilities holds strategic value for the economic and industrial resilience of both countries; furthermore, enhanced mutual cooperation in these areas will strengthen overall economic security. The two sides will leverage complementary strengths in resources, technology, and expertise to address the shared challenge of expanding processing capacity, including through cooperation in standards, certification, and responsible supply practices in areas such as low-emission aluminum and steel industries."

Source: rfi

Original: toutiao.com/article/1864275323195392/

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