SYDNEY: Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe met his Australian counterpart Malcolm Turnbull in Sydney on Saturday where the pair agreed to deepen defence ties through joint military training and exercises.
Abe’s visit to Australia is the first since Turnbull became prime minister in late 2015, and comes amid heightened regional tension as China asserts its claims over disputed territory in the South China Sea.
“We have confirmed our commitment to the rule of law, free trade and open markets in our region,” Turnbull told reporters at a joint press conference on Saturday.
Abe said the increasingly uncertain geopolitical landscape made the relationship between Japan and Australia more important than ever.
“It is important to guard and increase the robustness of the free, open and rules-based international order,” Abe said.
The two leaders announced the signing of an Acquisition and Cross‑Servicing Agreement (ACSA), which will increase cooperation in combined exercises, training and peace-keeping operations.
