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Official News - April 2008
► The Australia-Papua New Guinea (PNG) Ministerial Forum
The 18TH Australia-PNG Ministerial Forum produced a range of substantive outcomes. The Ministerial delegation, led by Mr Smith, was the most senior to visit PNG, demonstrating the importance of the relationship. A joint understanding was signed on the preservation of the Kokoda Track, as were a number of MOUs and a forward looking statement on a bilateral partnership for development.
The Australia-PNG Ministerial Forum is the focal point for managing our relationship with PNG. It is meant to be held annually.
However, the Forum has not been held since 2005. The 2006 Forum was cancelled due to the Moti Affair. Australian and PNG elections meant the Forum could not convene in 2007.
On 22 and 23 April, six Australian Ministers and three Parliamentary Secretaries travelled to Madang in PNG for the Forum, demonstrating the importance that the Government places on Australia’s bilateral relationship with PNG. PNG Foreign Minister Abal led a PNG delegation of 17 Ministers.
It is a time of great change in Australia’s relations with the Pacific. The new Australian Government is committed to working with Pacific Island countries as an equal partner and to rejuvenating the relationship with PNG is a high priority for the government, given the close historical and people-to-people ties, and PNG’s leadership role in the region.
This year the Forum had productive and open discussions on a wide range of issues including development assistance, police and defence cooperation, the Kokoda Track and climate change.
During the meeting, Australia and PNG signed a joint statement of understanding on the preservation of the Kokoda Track and MOUs on police cooperation, the establishment of an Australian Tsunami Warning System and tourism cooperation.
Australian and PNG also agreed to negotiate a Heads of Agreement for a bilateral Partnership for Development – in line with the Prime Minister’s Port Moresby Declaration - in time for the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ Meeting in Niue in August, and to rebadge and revise the capacity building program that deploys senior Australian government officials to PNG.
At the conclusion of the meeting a comprehensive communiqué was signed by Foreign Ministers.
The 19th Forum will be held in Australia in 2009.
► Continental Shelf recommendations
The United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf provided its recommendations to Australia confirming Australia’s jurisdiction over 2.55 million square kilometres of seabed beyond 200 nautical miles.
On 21 April, the Minister for Resources, Energy and Tourism announced the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf had confirmed Australia’s jurisdiction over 2.5 million square kilometres of continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles from the coastline.
Australia made a submission to the Commission, consisting of 10 regions, in November 2004, following eight years of marine surveys and four years preparing and compiling the submission. At Australia’s request the Commission agreed not to consider for the time being the region adjacent to the Australian Antarctic Territory.
Australia will shortly proclaim the outer limits of the Australian continental shelf into law on the basis of the recommendations of the Commission.
Australia will also deposit a description of the continental shelf boundary with the Secretary-General of the United Nations.
► Governor-General at 60th Anniversary of State of Israel
The Governor-General, Major General Michael Jeffery, and Mrs Jeffery are travelling to Israel at the invitation of the President of the State of Israel, His Excellency Mr Shimon Peres, to represent the government and people of Australia during this, the 60th anniversary of Israel. The visit is the first by an Australian Head of State.
Australia greatly values its strong and long-standing friendship with Israel, a friendship based on shared democratic values, strong cultural ties and commercial relations. The visit will provide an opportunity to reinforce these relationships at the very highest levels.
The Governor-General and Mrs Jeffery will also participate in veterans’ commemorative events including officially opening, with Mr Peres of The Park of the Australian Soldier in Beersheva on 28 April. The central feature is a sculpture by renowned Australian sculptor, Peter Corlett, commemorating the charge of the Australian Light Horse Division’s 4th Brigade against the Turkish positions at Beersheba on 31 October 1917. The charge of the 4th Light Horse was a significant Australian military event in World War I. The Park features a landscaped recreational area and innovative playground catering for children with disabilities.
► Australia’s Candidacy for a United Nations Non-Permanent Security Council Seat
Australia will seek election to the United Nations (UN) Security Council in 2012 for the 2013-14 term. The decision to stand for election reflects the Government’s commitment to increase Australia’s engagement with the UN.
On 29 March 2008, after meeting with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, the Prime Minister Kevin Rudd announced that Australia would be a candidate for a non-permanent seat on the Security Council. This is an important aspect of the Government’s commitment to increase Australia’s engagement with the UN.
It is natural that Australia, which has not been on the Council since 1986, should aspire to another term on the world’s pre-eminent security body.
As a creative middle power, Australia is committed to helping address the serious global challenges facing today’s world such as climate change, conflict prevention, terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. The Security Council plays a critical role in addressing many of these challenges.
Australia is keenly committed to the multilateral system as a key factor in enhancing global security and economic well-being. We are confident that Australia can make a positive and sustained contribution to the work of the Security Council in 2013-14.
► The Enduring Importance of the Australia-Japan Relationship
Australia attaches high priority to its relationship with Japan; five Cabinet Ministers have visited Japan since November 2007 and the Prime Minister is expected to make visits in June and July this year.
Japan is Australia’s closest partner in Asia. Our relationship is at an historically high level of substance and intimacy.
There have already been visits by five Cabinet Ministers to Japan since November 2007. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is expected to visit Japan in early June for a bilateral visit and again in July to attend the G8 Summit. This underlines the high priority Australia attaches to the relationship with Japan.
Japan is the world’s second largest economy in market exchange rate terms; the third largest in purchasing parity power terms. It accounts for half the total economic output of East Asia.
Strong, mutually beneficial economic links are at the core of the relationship. Japan has been Australia’s largest export market for 40 years:
• merchandise exports in 2007 were worth $31.8 billion, almost as much as the value of merchandise exports to China and the United States combined;
• goods and services trade with Japan delivers Australia its largest bilateral trade surplus: $13.8 billion in 2007;
• Japan is Australia’s third largest source of investment with a total stock of $51 billion at the end of 2006; Japanese investment has been essential in the development of many of Australia’s export industries.
A comprehensive, WTO-plus free trade agreement with Japan remains a priority for Australia; the Government is actively pursuing that goal and has held four rounds of negotiations so far, the fifth round is to be held at the end of April in Canberra.
Defence and security cooperation is an increasingly important part of the relationship. The Australian Government is actively implementing the Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation with Japan and the associated Action Plan. Australian and Japanese defence forces have worked together in relief and peace-keeping operations in Cambodia, East Timor, Iraq and in response to the Asian tsunami. Bilateral security ties also enable closer trilateral strategic cooperation between Australia, Japan and the United States.