Ambassador Suzuki’s Address to the National Press Club of Australia

On November 12, Ambassador Suzuki addressed the National Press Club of Australia on “Girt by sea and in the same boat: 50 years of Japan-Australia relations and beyond.” The address highlighted the profound and evolving relationship between Japan and Australia, rooted in a shared maritime history and a commitment to a Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP).
 
Ambassador Suzuki began by reflecting on the historical ties between Japan and Australia, particularly through the Japanese pearl divers in Thursday and Friday Islands in the Torres Strait, touching on how both countries are connected by the ocean. He stressed that in today's turbulent geopolitical landscape, the Japan-Australia "Special Strategic Partnership" is indispensable, serving as a "central pillar" for like-minded nations in realising a Free and Open Indo-Pacific.
 
Looking back on the 50 years since the signing of the Basic Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation between Japan and Australia, also known as the NARA Treaty, Ambassador Suzuki detailed the remarkable journey of reconciliation, citing examples such as the F-35 training in Darwin and his personal family history. He emphasised the robust growth in security cooperation, economic ties, and people-to-people connections, noting Australia's high level of trust in Japan.
 
For the next 50 years, he proposed deepening security cooperation, including strengthening the Japan- Australia-U.S. triangle, deepening defence industrial cooperation, and advancing multi-layered frameworks including the QUAD. From an economic perspective, he emphasised Japanese innovation as key to unlocking Australia's potential in areas such as housing, critical minerals, and renewables, while advocating for a stable investment environment. He also called for deepening people-to-people ties and fostering innovation through expanded intellectual and academic exchanges.
 
The speech concluded by inviting participation from the audience and viewers in the upcoming 50th-anniversary celebrations of the NARA Treaty, reaffirming that the enduring, trust-bound cooperation between Japan and Australia is vital for the peace and stability of the region.
 
Read Ambassador Suzuki’s address HERE.

Watch the recording in full HERE.