I will travel to Singapore today to attend the Sixth Asia Security Conference (commonly called the Shangri-La Dialogue).
The Shangri-La Dialogue has established itself as the key event for defence and security diplomacy for the region. Hosted by the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) it provides an opportunity for Defence ministers and high level representatives from around the Asia Pacific to discuss defence and security issues within the region.
I will deliver an address on 2 June on Australia’s perspective on current and future nuclear security challenges facing the Asia-Pacific region.
Australia’s delegation will also include Secretary for Defence, Mr Nick Warner and Chief of the Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston.
23 nations have sent delegations to the dialogue since the inaugural meeting in 2002. In 2007, 25 nations will be represented including Australia, South East Asian nations, Japan, Republic of Korea, Pakistan, New Zealand, UK, US, France and Canada.
Following the Shangri-La Dialogue, I will travel to Japan to meet with Mr Fumio Kyuma, the Japanese Minister for Defense. We will be discussing the deepening bilateral defence relationship between our countries and ways to further enhance defence cooperation in areas such as counter terrorism, disaster relief and humanitarian assistance, peacekeeping, maritime security and proliferation security. The Secretary of Defence Mr Warner and Chief of the Defence Force Air Chief Marshal Houston will also accompany me to Japan.
While in Japan, together with the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Downer, I will attend the inaugural Australia-Japan Foreign and Defence Ministerial Dialogue, more commonly known as a 2 + 2 meeting. This meeting will provide us the opportunity to discuss global and regional security issues and the state of our bilateral relationship with Minister Kyuma and the Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Taro Aso.
The 2 + 2 meeting – provided for under the Australia–Japan Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation signed by Prime Ministers Howard and Abe in March – will be held annually and is a historic development in our relationship with Japan. Japan currently has 2 + 2 meetings with only one other country, the United States.
Japan is a close friend and key partner of Australia with whom we share democratic values and a range of mutual interests, including our respective alliances with the US.
As long standing democracies and developed economies, we have a common cause in working together to maintain stability and security globally with a particular focus on the Asia Pacific region.
