• Japanese PM and Australian PM agree that their countries will work even more closely in the areas of security and economy

WASHINGTON: Visiting Japanese Prime Minister SUGA Yoshihide welcomed the recently concluded AUKUS security pact among the United States, Britain and Australia on Friday.

Suga expressed the view at a meeting with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, which lasted more than an hour including the time spent over breakfast.

Suga and Morrison agreed that their countries will work even more closely in the areas of security and economy to realize a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

The two leaders also confirmed closer cooperation within the “Quad” framework among their countries plus the United States and India.

The leaders also shared their opposition to any attempts to change the status quo in the East and South China seas through unilateral moves or economic intimidation, apparently bearing China in mind.

JIJI Press