[Title] Japan-Australia Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation

The Prime Ministers of Japan and Australia,

Affirming that the strategic partnership between Japan and Australia is based on democratic values, a commitment to human rights, freedom and the rule of law, as well as shared security interests, mutual respect, trust and deep friendship;

Committing to the continuing development of their strategic partnership to reflect shared values and interests;

Recalling their on-going beneficial cooperation on regional and global security challenges, including terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery, and human security concerns such as disaster relief and pandemics, as well as their contributions to regional peace and stability;

Recognising that the future security and prosperity of both Japan and Australia is linked to the secure future of the Asia-Pacific region and beyond;

Affirming their common purpose in working together, and with other countries through such fora as Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), and the East Asia Summit (EAS), to achieve the objective of a prosperous, open and secure Asia-Pacific region, and recognising that strengthened bilateral security cooperation will make a significant contribution in this context;

Committing to increasing practical cooperation between the defence forces and other security related agencies of Japan and Australia, including through strengthening the regular and constructive exchange of views and assessments of security developments in areas of common interest;

Committing to working together, and with others, to respond to new security challenges and threats, as they arise;

Affirming the common strategic interests and security benefits embodied in their respective alliance relationships with the United States, and committing to strengthening trilateral cooperation, including through practical collaboration among the foreign affairs, defence and other related agencies of all three countries, as well as through the Trilateral Strategic Dialogue and recognising that strengthened bilateral cooperation will be conducive to the enhancement of trilateral cooperation;

Desiring to create a comprehensive framework for the enhancement of security cooperation between Japan and Australia;

Have decided as follows:

Strengthening Cooperation

Japan and Australia will strengthen their cooperation and consultation on issues of common strategic interest in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond. This includes cooperation for a peaceful resolution of issues related to North Korea, including its nuclear development, ballistic missile activities, and humanitarian issues including the abduction issue. Japan and Australia also recognise the threat to peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond posed by terrorism and will further strengthen cooperation to address this threat.

Japan and Australia will also strengthen their cooperation through the United Nations and other international and regional organisations and fora through activities such as peacekeeping and humanitarian relief operations. Japan and Australia will work towards the reform of the United Nations, including the realization of Japan's permanent membership of the Security Council.

The cooperation will be conducted in accordance with laws and regulations of each country.

Japan and Australia will deepen and expand their bilateral cooperation in the areas of security and defence cooperation with a view to enhancing the effectiveness of their combined contribution to regional and international peace and security, as well as human security.

Areas of Cooperation

The scope of security cooperation between Japan and Australia will include, but not be limited to the following:

(i) law enforcement on combating transnational crime, including trafficking in illegal narcotics and precursors, people smuggling and trafficking, counterfeiting currency and arms smuggling;

(ii) border security;

(iii) counter-terrorism;

(iv) disarmament and counter-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery;

(v) peace operations;

(vi) exchange of strategic assessments and related information;

(vii) maritime and aviation security;

(viii) humanitarian relief operations, including disaster relief;

(ix) contingency planning, including for pandemics.

As part of the above-mentioned cooperation, Japan and Australia will, as appropriate, strengthen practical cooperation between their respective defence forces and other security related agencies, including through:

(i) exchange of personnel;

(ii) joint exercises and training to further increase effectiveness of cooperation, including in the area of humanitarian relief operations;

(iii) coordinated activities including those in the areas of law enforcement, peace operations, and regional capacity building.

Implementation

Japan and Australia will develop an action plan with specific measures to advance security cooperation in the above areas.

Japan and Australia will further strengthen the strategic dialogue between their Foreign Ministers, on an annual basis.

Japan and Australia will build on their dialogue between Defence Ministers, on an annual basis.

Japan and Australia will enhance joint Foreign and Defence Ministry dialogue, including through the establishment of a regular Ministerial dialogue.

Signed at Tokyo this 13th day of March, 2007

SHINZO ABE

Prime Minister of Japan

JOHN HOWARD

Prime Minister of Australia