Launch of the Official Japanese Programme for the Australia-Japan Year of Exchange

Introduction

I'm very pleased to be able to join you for the launch of the Japanese side of the Australia-Japan Year of Exchange.

As Ambassador Ueda mentioned, the Year of Exchange marks the 30th anniversary of the signing of the Basic Treaty of Friendship and

Co-operation between Australia and Japan.

The treaty aimed to expand the political, strategic and cultural ties between our two countries. It built on the success of the Australia-Japan Commerce Agreement, which was signed in 1957 and was an important milestone for both Australia and Japan.

The agreement underpinned the massive growth in our trade that resulted in Japan becoming Australia's largest export market.

We are now working with Japan on a feasibility study into a possible free trade agreement. My hope is that we will be able to mark the 50 th anniversary of the commerce agreement by starting negotiations on a comprehensive free trade agreement.

This year is also the 30 th anniversary of the establishment of the Australia-Japan Foundation, and I would like to acknowledge the board members who are here tonight.

The foundation has made an important contribution by supporting exchanges and distributing information about Australia in Japan. For example, it has provided teaching materials on Australia to every one of Japan's 11,000 junior high schools.

The Year of Exchange will deepen the mutual understanding between our countries.

In the spirit of the year, the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Embassy of Japan will oversee the official programme in Australia. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Australian Embassy in Tokyo will co-ordinate the Australian programme in Japan.

The programme in Australia will include more than a hundred events, including a travelling exhibition that shows how our countries are
co-operating in science and innovation.

For our part, we are organising a comprehensive programme in Japan, with the support of the Year of Exchange Executive Committee. It's chaired by Dr Ashton Calvert and is doing an excellent job.

Tourism Australia has appointed three prominent Japanese men and women as Goodwill Ambassadors. They will appear in advertisements throughout Japan and talk about how Australia has affected their lives.

The Goodwill Ambassador for cultural exchanges is the Cairns-based actress and vocalist, Asato Shizuki.

For sister city and sister school exchanges, the Goodwill Ambassador is the astronaut Mamoru Mohri, a past student of Flinders University in South Australia.

Finally, the Goodwill Ambassador for sports exchanges is Yuko Arimori, a two-time Olympic medallist in the women's marathon.

Our programme in Japan will also include the first Australian film festival that has been held there for twenty years.

It will include the director's cut of Picnic at Hanging Rock – so Japanese filmgoers will be able to join us in admiring the eerie beauty of the Australian bush – and also in wondering what really happened to Miranda, Irma and Marion.

The Year of Exchange has generated enormous interest in both Australia and Japan. I wish Ambassador Ueda and his colleagues the very best as their programme in Australia gets underway.

Thank you.