This year’s reception played host to a large number of guests from various government and private sector related institutions, including the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, the Department of Defence, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, defence attaches from various countries, and representatives from defence industries, academia and the media.
At the reception, after renditions of the national anthems of both nations, Ambassador Kusaka and (then) Vice Chief of the Defence Force Vice Admiral Ray Griggs gave speeches in which they offered significant praise for the progress so far in defence and security co-operation between Japan and Australia, and expressed their high expectations for a further deepening in this relationship.
The reception also featured explanations of exhibits of defence material by various defence industries aimed at further promoting defence equipment and technology co-operation between Japan and Australia. These exhibits introduced to guests the high level of technical proficiency and policies related to Japanese defence equipment.
This year’s reception was blessed with perfect weather, and guests from various countries were able to enjoy both Japanese food and sake in the grounds of the Ambassador’s Residence. Such mutual interaction thus helped to deepen the level of understanding of Japan.
Speech by Ambassador Kusaka
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 Honorary guest speech by Vice Admiral Ray Griggs |
Performance of both nations’ anthems
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Exhibition by Japanese defence-related industries
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Serving Ice from Antarctica
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 Guests engaged in conversation |