Ambassador Takahashi’s visit to the Northern Territory

Ambassador Takahashi paid an official visit to the Northern Territory from the 18^th to the 20^th of February 2019. During the visit he met and exchanged views with Administrator of the Northern Territory, Vicki O’Halloran, Chief Minister of the Northern Territory, Michael Gunner, City of Darwin Lord Mayor, Kon Vatskalis and other prominent citizens of the Northern Territory.
 
As the representative of the Government of Japan, Ambassador Takahashi also attended a ceremony of a commemorative tree planting for the I-124 submarine that was sunk in coastal waters off Darwin during WWII, and attended the commemoration ceremony marking the 77^th anniversary of the bombing of Darwin and of the sinking of the USS Peary. He also visited the Ichthys LNG Project site, Fujita Hall at the Darwin Memorial Uniting Church, and the Darwin Military Museum.
 
Ambassador Takahashi’s official visit to the Northern Territory was his very first official visit to any state or territory in Australia after arriving in Canberra last month. The visit was also a follow-up to Prime Minister Abe’s visit to Darwin last November – a historic visit symbolising reconciliation between Japan and Australia.
 
During the course of his official visit, Ambassador Takahashi deepened his awareness of the strong economic ties between Japan and Australia fostered by the import and export of liquid natural gas, the importance of security cooperation, and of further strengthening grassroots-level exchange, encompassing bilateral relations of the past, present and future.
 
Based on the recent visit to the Northern Territory, we will continue to expend every effort in creating even closer links between Japan and the Northern Territory. 
 

Commemorative tree planting for the I-124

Laying wreaths at the 77th anniversary of the bombing of Darwin	Courtesy visit on NT Administrator O’Halloran
Courtesy visit on Chief Minister Gunner	Courtesy visit on Lord Mayor Vatskalis